Under a Bad Sign
Title: Under a Bad Sign
Characters/Pairing: Maya, Howard Lemay
Rating: PG
Word count: 1,207
Disclaimer: Do not own.
Summery: Rescued from Odessa Maya has to make a hard choice.
Note: KW Verse. Takes place after Let Go. Yes, finally continuing.
Parts: 1, 2, 3
Diffused dawn light shines blue-grey through the metal grids over the large windows that face an empty New York street. Everything is silent but for his footfalls against the concrete and stifled yawn. He hasn't done this for awhile and certainly not at the ass crack of dawn. The woman, recently gone through the decontamination process, sits in grey sweat pants and drops her hands from her damp hair as he reaches her.
"Where is my daughter?!"
Howard takes a seat and lowers his clipboard and folder. "She's perfectly fine Ms Herrera, after we're through here I'll take you to her. She's just one floor down."
"I want to see her now." Maya demands, leaning over the table. He can see that she's shaking, whether through fear or something else he couldn't tell.
"It was a long flight from Texas so we're providing her with some breakfast. Once she's finished I'll have someone bring her up. But right now Ms Herrera we need to talk about you." He flicks open the folder and Maya sweeps her eyes over it and her maternal demands melt. She sits back, glancing from the papers to him nervously.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Howard Lemay, I work with Homeland Security which is now in conjuncture with the CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, " he adds at Maya's non forthcoming expression. "But in this day and age there really isn't a difference between them." he taps at the desk and Maya's eyes flick to it, "this is the main center in the south east and for all intent and purposes I am in charge."
She shifts in her seat and slowly sits forward, lacing her hands together on the desk to stop them trembling. "Ok...what does this have to do with me?"
He smiles knowingly at her and she blinks, before he's all business again. "When we get a case of a non US citizen, an uninfected one, we just ship them back to their own country. Wanted criminals on the other hand are more complicated."
"What?" Her voice shakes, her hands sweat and clench. He can see the shiny marks on the desk.
"You're a wanted woman Maya, in almost nine countries. A mass murderer. We have all the evidence on record and no matter the shit state we are in now I can't let that slide."
She gapes and tries to speak for a good minuet before she finds her voice. "It wasn't my f-fault! I could not help it!" She stands, panting and he stiffens, waiting for her ability to activate but it doesn't. He cocks his head.
"Do you have control over your ability now?"
She falters, almost sits. "What? How do you know about -"
"I worked for the Company. Still do, with what's left of it." he answers simply and her eyes widen before she takes a seat again.
"I do not have that ability anymore. Gabe -" she stalls and glances at him with a weary scrutiny. Howard nods and pushes the folder over to Maya.
"Yes we know about that to. He's here, you'll probably not be too pleased to hear." she keeps her head down, doesn't speak but her hands shake on the pages as she turns them. He had been informed that once Mr Gray had been revived from the stabbing Maya had inflicted she had cried with relief, kissed his sleeping face and then completely sobered up, asked that she and her daughter be placed away from him. He really didn't know what had happened over those eight years in Texas but he thinks it must be some strange tale.
"I...I," she swallows convulsively and then looks up, in tears. "I'm sorry, this - this is just a shock, to see this all again." He sits quietly as she makes her way through it and wipes the back of her hands over her cheeks and straightens herself up, closing the folder. He gives her time to compose herself before carrying on.
"Is that everything? Nothing else to confess?"
She stares with resolve, no more tears and he sees a strange pious hardness about the woman. "I've killed more then what's in there. I was telling you the truth, when it first started they were all accidents, the ability was out of my control and I pray for those that were killed. But...but some were not accidents - some of them were not, I confess it. I never intended to hurt anyone, I never believed myself capable of it. Only for my survival. But sometimes you can shock yourself... I only came here, with my brother, to find a cure. Salvation."
He smiles sadly. "If only it were found in a syringe.... I'm aware of your predicament Ms Herrera. Sylar. Your brother and I know at one time you helped the Company and that proved to be a godsend for many...so I have two propositions for you. The first is that we arrest you and you've to spend your time in hard labour. There's a lot of hungry people and we need able bodied people to provide. You would have a roof over your head, three meals a day but -"
"I'd never get out." Maya finishes for him and he nods. Face impassive she tilts her head. "And what is the other option?" He doesn't think her situation has really crashed down on her yet. Compartmentalizing.
"Like I said before, illegal aliens are deported. You can go back home and from what I have heard and seen, to some extent, you would be free. The government there is in total liquidation, so you would not be prosecuted. But you would be totally on your own. It's not a safe place, especially for a child bearing woman." he whispers softly, feeling a swell of disgust and she catches onto his meaning and grimaces. It wasn't just there, reports came from everywhere and only seemed to be rising.
"What about Nadia?"
"She is a US citizen so she has an anchor here. If you decide to stay here she would be put into the system, into care. She would be looked after and she would be able to visit you. Or she can go with you to the Dominican Republic."
"What - what about Gabriel? He's her father." she swallows and that hardness shines wetly.
Howard raises a brow and clears his throat. "Right now Mr Gray is incarcerated. And I don't see him coming out for a very long time."
"Are you going to kill him?" her tone is unreadable but forcibly so.
"No, he's very useful to us." he replies flatly but feels like sneering.
Maya snorts and cross her arms over her chest. "I bet he is...can I have time to think on this? Please?"
"Years ago the answer would be no but we're not as overworked as before. And you're a unique case.... A week, during which time you are not to leave this building. Someone will show you to your room." He stands and Maya does the same.
"Nadia?"
"She should be waiting outside now."
Maya looks towards the door with fear and then touches Howard's arm, very concerned. "Does she know? Does she know what I did?"
"No but I'm sure she'll have questions, whatever fate you decide." With a curt nod he moves to the back of the room to another exit and hears the door he came through bang open and the sound a little girl running, crying for her mother before it's shut off from his ears. Tucking Maya Herrera's folder under his arm he heads towards home for some breakfast and shut eye.
Characters/Pairing: Maya, Howard Lemay
Rating: PG
Word count: 1,207
Disclaimer: Do not own.
Summery: Rescued from Odessa Maya has to make a hard choice.
Note: KW Verse. Takes place after Let Go. Yes, finally continuing.
Parts: 1, 2, 3
Diffused dawn light shines blue-grey through the metal grids over the large windows that face an empty New York street. Everything is silent but for his footfalls against the concrete and stifled yawn. He hasn't done this for awhile and certainly not at the ass crack of dawn. The woman, recently gone through the decontamination process, sits in grey sweat pants and drops her hands from her damp hair as he reaches her.
"Where is my daughter?!"
Howard takes a seat and lowers his clipboard and folder. "She's perfectly fine Ms Herrera, after we're through here I'll take you to her. She's just one floor down."
"I want to see her now." Maya demands, leaning over the table. He can see that she's shaking, whether through fear or something else he couldn't tell.
"It was a long flight from Texas so we're providing her with some breakfast. Once she's finished I'll have someone bring her up. But right now Ms Herrera we need to talk about you." He flicks open the folder and Maya sweeps her eyes over it and her maternal demands melt. She sits back, glancing from the papers to him nervously.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Howard Lemay, I work with Homeland Security which is now in conjuncture with the CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, " he adds at Maya's non forthcoming expression. "But in this day and age there really isn't a difference between them." he taps at the desk and Maya's eyes flick to it, "this is the main center in the south east and for all intent and purposes I am in charge."
She shifts in her seat and slowly sits forward, lacing her hands together on the desk to stop them trembling. "Ok...what does this have to do with me?"
He smiles knowingly at her and she blinks, before he's all business again. "When we get a case of a non US citizen, an uninfected one, we just ship them back to their own country. Wanted criminals on the other hand are more complicated."
"What?" Her voice shakes, her hands sweat and clench. He can see the shiny marks on the desk.
"You're a wanted woman Maya, in almost nine countries. A mass murderer. We have all the evidence on record and no matter the shit state we are in now I can't let that slide."
She gapes and tries to speak for a good minuet before she finds her voice. "It wasn't my f-fault! I could not help it!" She stands, panting and he stiffens, waiting for her ability to activate but it doesn't. He cocks his head.
"Do you have control over your ability now?"
She falters, almost sits. "What? How do you know about -"
"I worked for the Company. Still do, with what's left of it." he answers simply and her eyes widen before she takes a seat again.
"I do not have that ability anymore. Gabe -" she stalls and glances at him with a weary scrutiny. Howard nods and pushes the folder over to Maya.
"Yes we know about that to. He's here, you'll probably not be too pleased to hear." she keeps her head down, doesn't speak but her hands shake on the pages as she turns them. He had been informed that once Mr Gray had been revived from the stabbing Maya had inflicted she had cried with relief, kissed his sleeping face and then completely sobered up, asked that she and her daughter be placed away from him. He really didn't know what had happened over those eight years in Texas but he thinks it must be some strange tale.
"I...I," she swallows convulsively and then looks up, in tears. "I'm sorry, this - this is just a shock, to see this all again." He sits quietly as she makes her way through it and wipes the back of her hands over her cheeks and straightens herself up, closing the folder. He gives her time to compose herself before carrying on.
"Is that everything? Nothing else to confess?"
She stares with resolve, no more tears and he sees a strange pious hardness about the woman. "I've killed more then what's in there. I was telling you the truth, when it first started they were all accidents, the ability was out of my control and I pray for those that were killed. But...but some were not accidents - some of them were not, I confess it. I never intended to hurt anyone, I never believed myself capable of it. Only for my survival. But sometimes you can shock yourself... I only came here, with my brother, to find a cure. Salvation."
He smiles sadly. "If only it were found in a syringe.... I'm aware of your predicament Ms Herrera. Sylar. Your brother and I know at one time you helped the Company and that proved to be a godsend for many...so I have two propositions for you. The first is that we arrest you and you've to spend your time in hard labour. There's a lot of hungry people and we need able bodied people to provide. You would have a roof over your head, three meals a day but -"
"I'd never get out." Maya finishes for him and he nods. Face impassive she tilts her head. "And what is the other option?" He doesn't think her situation has really crashed down on her yet. Compartmentalizing.
"Like I said before, illegal aliens are deported. You can go back home and from what I have heard and seen, to some extent, you would be free. The government there is in total liquidation, so you would not be prosecuted. But you would be totally on your own. It's not a safe place, especially for a child bearing woman." he whispers softly, feeling a swell of disgust and she catches onto his meaning and grimaces. It wasn't just there, reports came from everywhere and only seemed to be rising.
"What about Nadia?"
"She is a US citizen so she has an anchor here. If you decide to stay here she would be put into the system, into care. She would be looked after and she would be able to visit you. Or she can go with you to the Dominican Republic."
"What - what about Gabriel? He's her father." she swallows and that hardness shines wetly.
Howard raises a brow and clears his throat. "Right now Mr Gray is incarcerated. And I don't see him coming out for a very long time."
"Are you going to kill him?" her tone is unreadable but forcibly so.
"No, he's very useful to us." he replies flatly but feels like sneering.
Maya snorts and cross her arms over her chest. "I bet he is...can I have time to think on this? Please?"
"Years ago the answer would be no but we're not as overworked as before. And you're a unique case.... A week, during which time you are not to leave this building. Someone will show you to your room." He stands and Maya does the same.
"Nadia?"
"She should be waiting outside now."
Maya looks towards the door with fear and then touches Howard's arm, very concerned. "Does she know? Does she know what I did?"
"No but I'm sure she'll have questions, whatever fate you decide." With a curt nod he moves to the back of the room to another exit and hears the door he came through bang open and the sound a little girl running, crying for her mother before it's shut off from his ears. Tucking Maya Herrera's folder under his arm he heads towards home for some breakfast and shut eye.