Lazaret (Kept Woman Verse)
Title: Lazaret | Part 2
Characters/Pairing: Maya/Gabriel, Peter, Nadia, others.
Fandom: Heroes
Rating: R
Word count: 5, 554
Disclaimer: Do not own.
Summery: Nadia goes missing and they have to find her before it's too late.
Note: Kept Woman Verse. Three or four more parts to go. Unbet'd.
Parts: 1, 2, 3
But the man is no where to be seen. The truck he would have traveled in is also nowhere to be found. Already suppressing a tide of fear Nadia goes back to the quarantine building and looks through the window again. She concentrates, trying to catch that faint chill that prickles her skin and once again the room is filled with the dead.
“Uh...Hello? Can you hear me?” No one looks at her and so she repeats herself more loudly. A harried looking blonde woman at the desk suddenly looks at her in surprise. Nadia blinks and the woman is standing on the other side of the door.
“What are you doing here?” The woman’s voice is faint and derisive. She looks behind her nervously every few seconds, as if expecting something to come through the door.
Trying not to show any fear Nadia speaks as calmly as she can. “I need to find another quarantine building, near here. Do you have a map?”
The woman stares at her with a slack jawed expression and Nadia has to tell herself it is rude to laugh at the dead. The woman shakes her head.
“There are maps but I can’t give it to you. I can’t open the door. You shouldn’t be here.”
“I know.” Not to be defeated Nadia thinks quickly and almost kicks herself. “What about a telephone number I could call?” The phone lines had recently been made operational again. Well, most of them.
The receptionist looked behind her again, her fearful eyes fixed on the door. Nadia doesn’t have to be told that past that door was where the sick were kept. Even in death the poor woman still lives in fear of something that can’t hurt her. She looks back and begins to speak in a low voice and Nadia realises she trailing off a number. Fumbling with her satchel she quickly brings out a pencil and pad and begins to write.
“Did you get it?”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
“That’s good...what’s it like out there?”
Nadia, how had been about to leave looks into the woman’s sad face and stills. She can’t lie to her. “It’s...clear. There are no more sick people.”
The woman frowns. “That can’t be true. I got put in here on Wednesday and the streets, the streets...” Her voice wavers off and she looks behind her again. Moved with pity Nadia taps the glass.
“That happened years ago. There might be a few places that are infected but they have things under control now. What’s your name?”
“Audrey. I am - I was a FBI agent.”
Nadia’s mouth drops open and she stares at the blond woman in awe. “Wow, my father used to tell me about them. He said that he had a friend in the FBI once. He admired her.”
Audrey snorts and stares at Nadia more closely. “You should go now, it’s not safe.”
Nadia shakes her head. “Actually it is safe. You can leave at any time.” She steps back, leaving Audrey to stare at her, perplexed. Nadia watches her disappear and as she walks away to find a phone booth she hopes that Agent Audrey really has gone for good.
*
Jaime watches Richard’s mom waiting at the gate, her arms crossed over her chest against the cold. As the small boy makes his way to her she smiles and hugs him before looking over his head.
“Where’s Nadia?”
Richard shrugs. “I dunno. She didn’t come back to class after recess.”
“She didn’t? Did you tell the teacher?”
Richard nods, looking grave and his mother takes his hand and draws him back into the school. Fifteen minutes later they emerge again. His mother is clearly worried and Jaime steps forward before they can leave.
“Has something happened to Nadia?”
The woman turns sharply and stares at him. She narrows her eyes and cocks her head. “Have I seen you before?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t think so. I lived in Odessa so I just got here a few months ago.”
She nods but her gaze is piercing. “You haven’t seen Nadia?”
Jaime shakes his head. “Last time I saw her was at recess.” He’s not going to tell this woman about the fight they had. If she’s run away because he upset her then that’s enough guilt without this woman’s angry responce.
Richard’s mother smiles curtly and ushers the boy into the car. She hastily writes something and rips a piece of paper. She rolls down the window. “If you see her can you call this number?”
She hands him the note and Jaime looks down. Caitlin Petrelli.
There’s a number and address. Jaime’s eyebrows rise. Judging from the address the area in which they live is extremely wealthy. Also far away. It must be a hassle to drive to one of the only schools still running in the state. Jaime looks back at her and nods, pocketing the note.
“I’ll tell you if I see her.” He watches Caitlin and Richard drive away. Once they’re out of sight he turns to stare up the empty road. He had no idea where she could be but he couldn’t go home, not when it’s his fault that she’s missing.
Shoving his hands into his pockets Jaime begins to walk towards the quarantine area.
*
The cold is the first thing she feels, second her whirling head. When she and Peter teleport back to Hyde Park their area of destination is the wide balcony that juts out from the massive house. It’s the only place that’s safe enough to land. Maya breathes deep, trying to clear her head and turns to Peter. He smiles at her and then suddenly staggers. Maya steadies him.
“Are you all right?” She looks at his pale face with concern. He nods and with a sinking feeling she notes that his nose is bleeding. Pushing him into a deck chair she pulls the neckerchief from her throat and holds it up to his nose. Peter takes it from her gratefully.
“Thanks. I always used to get nose bleeds when I flew.”
“You’re not well Peter.”
“I’m fine. I’ve been stuck in that bed for months. I just need time to become strong again.”
She shakes her head. “You do too much. We should have waited.”
He stares at her seriously. “I don’t have time to wait. I have a purpose and I can’t flake out now. Not when you’re finally here.”
“You’re not a machine.” She leans down close and stares intently into his eyes. “I won’t back out. I won’t be a burden. If you need to recover then I can do this on my own.”
He shakes his head and gets to his feet. Maya follows him. The night is extremely dark and she can’t see anything beyond the gardens below. They walk into the house, which is deserted. It’s a ridiculously large place to live in but Maya treasures the times she can see it. For her it is the sight that tells her she is home and back to her daughter. Arms linked through his to keep him steady they make their way down the dark staircase.
“You know the ability is meant to work with two. You can do it by yourself but trust me you won’t last long.”
“Well I’ll stop before I faint.” They exit the mansion and begin walking down the long path to Peter’s house.
“If only that would work.” As they get closer to the house flashes of blue and red light can be seen though the trees and Maya and Peter stare at each other in surprise. Quickening their pace they reach the house at a run, their breathing heavy. Caitlin meets them at the door. Frantically she doesn’t hug Peter but Maya who pats her back in confusion.
“What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry Maya. It’s Nadia.” Teary eyes stare at her and Maya feels something squeeze her stomach and she feels an old familiar pressure building at the back of her eyes.
“Que? What about her?”
“She - she’s missing.”
Maya feels a hand grasp her shoulder but she pays no mind to it. She stares at the Irish woman but doesn’t quite see her. All she’s aware of is the words in her ears and the pressure building in her head.
“Maya? Are you okay?” Peter physically turns her to him and she stares at him in confusion.
“She’s gone?”
Peter looks at Caitlin, his face stern. “What happened?”
Caitlin shakes her head. “She was last seen at break time. The police are looking for her now.”
“The police?” Maya asks weakly. The reality of the situation is falling on her in drips.
“She means the Company. Maya,” he grips her shoulders tightly, “are you with me?”
Maya nods. “Si...I’m trying not panic Peter. I uh - dios.” Her face crunches up like wet paper and he draws her into his arms. He makes a drinking gestures with his hand at Caitlin who nods and walks back into the house. Peter looks down at Maya’s eyes which are welling with tears. They don’t overspill and she rubs at them harshly.
“You’re afraid to cry?”
“I’m afraid to lose control. Where is she?” She starts to breathe heavily and Peter draws he into the house and into the kitchen. Caitlin pours some gin into a glass. Maya and Peter sit and he never takes his hand out of hers.
“Drink this.” Caitlin passes it to her and Maya lifts it with a shaking hand. She gulps it down and shudders. Catlin smiles at her in sympathy. “Everything will be fine. They’re out there looking for her this very second.”
Hearing this Maya suddenly shots to her feet, her eyes wild. “I can’t stay here. I have to look for her.” She rushes out and Peter manages to catch her before she gets into a car.
“Wait! I’ll take you.” He cups her face and her panting breath plays over his skin. “You need to calm down.”
“It’s easy for you to say.”
“I know but you need to keep in control. We’re gonna go and we’re gonna find her but you have to relax.”
Maya nods and Peter lets go of her. She wants his words to take affect but her heart beats painfully in her chest. He grips her hand and with a nod they’re gone.
*
“If you wish to speak to an operator please press hash.”
Sitting in a deserted diner Nadia presses the phone to her ear. It is the tenth time that Nadia has called. Once she left the quarantine building she had sought out the nearest payphone and made the call. She had thought about calling Catlin of course but it just seemed too painful. Maybe she’d be the last person Nadia speaks to, someone she knows. Hours later and night fallen Nadia finds herself facing the prospect of hunkering down for the night. She feels equal measures scared and sickly excited.
They must realise that she’s missing now. Her mom and Peter should be back and Nadia can imagine all too vividly how upset her mother must be. It’s the repercussions of her actions that’s made her decide to wait out the night alone. If there’s nothing wrong with her and she did go home her mother will probably be more angry at her then she ever has been.
But if she is sick...
Nadia calls again, rolling her eyes in frustration at the automated message. Maybe no one is picking up because there is no one there. Maybe it’s been like this for years. Sighing Nadia is about to hang up when the line clicks and a tired voice speaks.
“Hello? You’re through to the CDC.”
“Hello? Uh, I’ve been trying to call you for hours.”
“Sorry kid, we’re very understaffed. What’s your problem?”
“Well...I think I might be sick.”
“I see...is there a parent or guardian I could talk to?”
“No, it’s just me. Just because I’m a kid doesn’t mean you can ignore me.”
“I’m not ignoring you, I promise. Can you tell me what symptoms you have?”
Nadia explains about her sweats and feeling dizzy and the man responds in a serious tone, which she is pleased about. Finally he asks for her name and address.
“My name is Nadia Herrera and uh...I have to put the phone down to see what street I’m on.”
“You don’t know where you are?”
“I came here to use the phone. It’s a diner, an empty one. Will you stay on the line while I have a look?”
“Sure.”
Nadia places the phone down carefully and rushes to the front door and pushes it open. She’s in the middle of the road and has to run to reach the end of it. She looks up for the street sign. 45th and 6th. Repeating it she runs back.
As she reaches the door she stops when a beam of light suddenly swoops across the street. A truck is pulling up slowly, a search light swinging back and forth. Nadia watches as the truck passes her and then stops.
Two people in hazmat suits get out and stand before her. In the daylight they are comical figures but in the dark they are anything but harmless. She does not like those suits. She notices that both of them have badges stuck to their chests. An anchored boat on sea waves.
“Little girl?”
Nadia blinks and her heart thumps. “Yeah?”
“Are you alone?”
Nadia says nothing. Biting at her lip she shrugs and one of them approaches her slowly. She backs away until her back hits the door. “What do want?”
“We just want to know if you’re all right?”
Nadia shakes her head. “I - I think I’m sick. I was just calling -” she stops suddenly and turns. The man on the phone is waiting for her! “I have to talk to someone!” She wrenches open the door and races in. She presses the phone to her ear and speaks in a rush. “Hello? Are you still there?”
“Yes I’m here. Did you get the address?”
“Si it’s...6th and..damn I’ve forgotten but it’s ok. The people in suits have found me.”
“People in suits?” He sounds sceptical.
“Yeah. They’re in a truck with a big light.”
The line goes silent for a moment but when the man speaks again his light friendly tone is gone. Instead he sounds worried. “Did they have a picture with a boat on it?”
“Yeah. Is something wrong?”
“Nadia this is very important and I want you to anwser me carefully: are you really sick or just pretending?”
She would have flared up with indignation at being questioned but there's something about the man's voice that gives her pause. There’s a stern quality to it that reminds her of her dad and Nadia can’t lie. “I thought I was but I just don’t want to go home. It’s gone on too long.” She feels like crying and has to bite her lip. The man sighs and asks her about the suits. Nadia looks toward the front windows.
“They’re waiting for me outside.” She speaks quietly. They’re stood at the door, watching her. Talking. “Should I tell them it’s all a mistake?”
“I’m sorry Nadia but that won’t do any good. You’re in a quarantine area and they have a right to take you. You need to get away from them if you can. Once you’ve done that I want you to call me again OK? Have you got a pen and paper?”
“Yeah.” She pulls the pen and pad out of her bag again, careful not to make to much movements. “Got it.”
He gives her the number and then asks her to repeat it to him. Satisfied that it’s correct he tells her his name. “Be brave Nadia. You should find an exit if you go through the kitchen.”
“Are they bad people?”
There’s a silence before he answers. “No. They’re scared of the sick Nadia. They search for them and...deal with them. It’s their job.”
“You mean they kill them?” Her voice is high with fear. “Can’t you tell them to stop?”
“I would if I could, believe me. They don’t answer to me. And no, they don’t kill people Nadia. They try to save them if they can. Listen, you’re gonna be okay. Just get out, stick to the shadows and run back to your school. I’ll be waiting for you. Go now.”
Nadia slings her satchel over her shoulder and straightens. “But what if I am sick?”
“Then you’re sick but that doesn’t mean you’re gonna die. Remember, be brave.”
“I will be. I am. Thank you Mr Bennet.” She hangs up and with one final look behind her darts for the kitchen door.
*
Jaime stops at the side of the road when he sees the truck. Two men stand outside an old diner. When he notes the symbol on the side of their vehicle Jaime flattens himself against a wall. He’s not sick but anyone caught in a quarantine area by those guys is considered fair game. Even a kid.
Casting a weary look over them Jaime heads back around the corner and makes his way down a back street. He’s been searching for hours and should be back home. Since moving to New York he’s been staying with George, a fellow Odessian. The man is kind and forgiving but Jaime is sure his patience won’t stretch this far.
But he can’t leave, not when she could be out here. Jaime passes a garbage bin when he hears shouts of warning and a door bangs open behind him. Someone darts out of the door and begins to run full pelt down the alley, away from him. Jaime spots the satchel banging against her leg.
“Nadia!”
But someone shouting her name just makes her run faster. Jaime looks through the door she just escaped through and with a lurch sees the suits coming towards him. He slams the door shut and makes a run for it. Reaching the mouth of the alley he spots her running across the street, heading in the direction of the school.
“Hey! Stay where you are!”
Jaime doesn’t bother to turn. He runs after Nadia but then reconsiders. He will lead them to her. He comes to a halt and sees an open doorway to his right. He hides in the dark stairwell of an abandon apartment block and flattens himself when the truck passes him. Waiting a minute he peeks out and sees with dread that they are heading towards the school. Jaime runs out and watches with horror as the suits jump out of the truck and grab Nadia as she reaches the barrier.
“No!” He runs forward, not caring that he will be caught. “Stop!”
Nadia struggles in their hold but when she sees him she stops and stares at him in astonishment.
“Jaime?”
He smiles at her and then looks at the man who restrains her. “She’s not sick, you don’t have to take her.”
“That’s not how it works kid. You’re both in a restricted quarantine area without suits.”
“Then take us to be decontaminated!”
The other man shakes his head sadly. “That’s not an option anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Because the virus has mutated.” Unable to form a response to this the man takes Jaime by the shoulder and pushes him towards the back of the truck with Nadia. “Are you going to be a problem?”
Jaime looks up at the man’s face but light reflecting against his visor obscures his features. They’re both much bigger and stronger then either of them. Jaime shakes his head and the man opens the doors to the back of the truck. Jaime climbs in and the other man lifts Nadia up to him. Jaime takes her into his arms and she comes willingly, clinging to him.
But as the door shuts she spits out a curse at them, her teeth chattering.
*
When Maya and Peter reach the school it’s closed for the night. Maya stares around her, hyper aware for any movement.
“Nadia?!” Her voices echoes back to her and a white mist billows before her. The night is freezing. Maya feels her throat going tight and she turns to Peter. He smiles at her reassuringly but it’s no good. She is petrified.
“Lets start looking.” He takes her gloved hand in his and they begin to walk along the side of the school. As they reach the locked entrance gate they notice that a man is waiting there by a car. Drawing closer the man turns to them and they all freeze.
“Noah?”
Noah Bennet stares not at Peter who has addressed him but Maya. He stares at her as if he’s looking at a ghost.
“My god.”
“Mr Bennet, is that you?” Maya steps forward, squinting her eyes. The last time she had seen the man was when they had been ambushed and Gabriel had kidnapped her. An age ago now.
“It - it’s me. I can’t believe it’s you, I thought you were dead.”
She shakes her head and comes closer. He’s older then she remembers, his ash blond hair going grey. His glasses remain the same. She touches him them for a moment and then steps back.
Peter frowns at him. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m waiting for someone. I work in CDC department now and a girl -”
“A girl? Who?” Maya demands, staring at him desperately and Mr Bennet opens his mouth to speak and then hesitates. Something dawns in his eyes.
“Nadia Herrera. I knew that name was familiar.” He says it fiercely, shaking his head. Maya grabs his arm, urging him to explain and he does so quickly. As he mentions that she could be sick Maya covers a hand over her mouth.
“Dios! She’s infected?”
“It’s unlikely but I can’t say for sure. She said she was pretending. The important thing is that she’s alive. Seeing as she hasn’t arrived she must have been taken by the suits.”
Maya groans and Peter pulls her against his side. “Do you know where they could have taken her? Another quarantine area?”
Noah shakes his head. “That’s what they used to do but things have changed. They don’t take them to building anymore.”
“Then where?”
“To sea. They transfer them to ships off the mainland.”
Maya frowns and a new wave of panic rolls through her. “They’re shipping her off? To where?”
“Nowhere. All the ships are anchored. They move the infected there, try to save them. If not they’re given a burial at sea.” Noah says it without missing a beat but Peter knows that wouldn’t happen. They’d sooner burn the boats then waste the time with burial. At least that’s the way it had been.
“So how do we find her?” Maya turns to Peter who looks at Noah.
“We go to the nearest harbour and talk to someone in charge over there. We’ll cover more ground if we split up” The man hasn’t been an active agent of the Company for years but he slips into the role of leader like he had never left.
Maya stares at him with a strange stern gratitude. “You don’t have to do this.”
Noah’s eyes sweep over her face. “Yes I do. I promised her.” He nods at them and quickly distributes his phone number, which they then give in return. Maya turns to Peter, ready to teleport to the harbour but the man stares at her in humiliation.
“I’m sorry.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t think I can do it.”
Maya nods in understanding, taking his hand and turns to Noah. He already holds the door open for her.
*
They search until the sun comes up.
They had spoken to every “suit” they could find but none of them could tell them anything. Most had been happy to help but it hadn’t got them anywhere. Nadia is probably being herded onto a ship that very second. Dead on their feet and bone tired they regroup in Noah’s car. Maya stares ahead, seeing nothing. Peter looks at her in worry.
“We’ll find her Maya.”
“How?” She speaks in a low, cool voice. The fear and panic hasn’t gone but now it is being held back by a numb wall. She shakes her head. “I should have never left. I should have been here.”
“This isn’t your fault.” But anything Peter says is useless. She turns to stare at the cold Atlantic ocean and the need that had been growing ever more persistent could not be denied anymore.
“We need someone to locate her.”
“Who?”
Maya turns to stare at Noah through hooded eyes. “You know who. Gabriel will lead us to her.”
*
The morning sun beats down on his neck. Even in December the Texas sun is harsh but while he feels the oppressive heat beating down on him the plants that he and others have so carefully tended to thrives.
He has turned Odessa into a food-basket for the rest of the country. They rely on him for food. To survive. He knows thinking like this is a slippery slope but now that his day to day life consists of waking in his cell in the morning and sleeping in at night with the middle forced to work under guarded supervision he thinks it’s a small transgression.
He is being punished for his misdeeds, paying for his past crimes. Just as Maya wants. He could by lying comatose with hole in his head in a cell somewhere so he knows how lucky he is to be out here, breathing the free air. Even if they have suppressed his abilities. Now only his ability to grow plants is available to him. As well as his innate ability but he’s virtually harmless with it...
It rankles, the ease with which they treat him. He was Sylar! They know how dangerous he is and yet they let him walk free of his cell. Under supervision but they must know how simple it is for him to escape. At first he told himself it was their way of showing their faith in him, their approval of his ongoing cooperation but when he had brought the subject up to Lemay in an offhand comment the man had laughed.
“We’ve got bigger fish to fry then you.”
He doesn’t want to admit that it stung but it had. There is no way he will ever regress to what he was but to be dismissed in such a way...
Gabriel sighs. “Stop thinking about it.” He straightens in his chair and opens his eyes. The field of wheat is coming along nicely. At this rate he should have it ready to harvest tomorrow. Maybe Nadia will even eat the bread that it will be made into.
Thinking of his daughter so far away is the only reason he would ever consider escaping and the only thing that stops him is Maya. He keeps in mind that it will be Nadia’s birthday soon and Lemay had promised that he’ll be able to see her. He just has to wait. Behave.
“Gray? You asleep?”
Gabriel opens his eyes and stares at his warden. She’s a short woman with red hair and he knows she hates being out in the sun. She’s nice enough but he knows she’ll shoot him in the back if she has to. She used to work in a dentist surgery in Chicago. He nods with a smile and gets to his feet.
“I’m finished. You should wear a hat Gladys, you’re starting to burn.”
She scoffs and pats the top of her curly head. “My decendants were Scottish. We’re made to stand under cloudy cold skies. I get red stepping out my damn door.”
Gabriel smiles and follows her to the car that she and the other warden, Henry, who drives. “I kinda like it. My father was from Italian stock.”
She opens her mouth to respond when suddenly she jerks upright and stares in surprise over his shoulder. Gabriel turns and his mouth falls open.
Maya and Peter stand a few feet from them. At the sight of the guns pointed at them they raise their hands slowly. Gabriel stares at Maya, soaking in her appearance. It’s been months since he last saw her. He feels exhilarated suddenly but also uncomfortable. The balance of power has shifted. He now has none.
“Maya? What are you doing here?”
“We need your help.”
We. He didn’t like that. He flicks his gaze to Peter who looks paler then Gladys. Maya looks very stressed and he’s suddenly on full alert. He takes a step towards her. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Nadia, she’s been taken.”
“What?!” Gabriel moves forward and the wardens both warn him to keep still. He looks back at them and sees that their guns are pointed at him. “Just let me talk to her? Please?”
Gladys and Henry share a look and they both nod. Gabriel moves to Maya’s side and it takes every last shred of self restraint not to pull her into his arms. She looks up into his face.
“Find her Gabriel. Tell me where she is.”
Gabriel stares unblinking for a moment and then his face grows troubled. “I can’t, they’ve suppressed all of my abilities. They pick and chose what I can use.” He flicks his eyes to Peter, expecting the man to look smug but he only looks disappointed. Maya slumps and her head bows. She is praying he realises. Gabriel turns to Peter with a frown. “Why can’t you find her? You have that ability don’t you?”
Peter nods and shifts uncomfortably on his feet. “I’ve tried but I can’t do it. It’s taking all my strength to teleport us both here and back.”
Maya lifts her head back up and takes Peter’s hand. “He’s done all he can.”
Gabriel stared between them and feels an awful stab of jealousy. He pushes it down hard and takes Maya’s arm in his hand. She jerks and looks at him sharply.
“Who’s taken her?”
She explains everything she knows and Gabriel is left feeling bereft. “It takes a week for them to give me just one power to use. It’ll take too long.”
Maya stares at him and then the wardens who are watching them closely. She turns to Peter and speaks in a low voice. “Take him with us.”
“What?” Peter stares at her in shock, mirroring Gabriel’s own expression.
Maya looks at them seriously. “We’ll find a way to get him working again. We can’t wait a week. Take him back with us.”
Gabriel stares at Maya, not knowing what to think. He knows the last few years had been hell for both of them, what he put her through, but here she is wanting to include him in her plans. He smiles. “I thought you wanted me to to spend the rest of my life in a cell?”
She turns to him with a hooded gaze and gestures around at the wheatfields they stand by. “What I want doesn’t matter. I know you want to help.”
He nods, already thinking of where his daughter could be when he notices Peter twitch and grab hold of Maya roughly. “Hey!” He strides forward, ignoring the click of the guns behind.
Peter stares fiercely at Maya and shakes his head. “No. You don’t have to do that.”
She looks uncertainly into Peter’s eyes. “They won’t let him go, he’s their prisoner.”
Peter smirks softly and lets go of her hand. “Yeah? Well I’m their boss.” He walks towards the wardens, palms up and speaks in a low commanding voice. They lower their guns in surprise and stand to attention.
Gabriel looks back at Maya and cocks his head, staring at her intently. There is something different about her. A forced calm that is reasonable given the circumstances but it’s the familiarity that’s ringing something for him. He steps closer and she looks up at him, weary.
“What?”
“Somethings changed...” He looks into her eyes and finally that part of him that has been able to know things intuitively from childhood reaches the answer without him even having to think. “Your ability is back?”
Maya peers sternly up at him and the terror that she had been suppressing for so long reaches her eyes. “Yes, it’s back. I...” she trails off with a shake of her head and begins to pull away.
Gabriel reaches for her hand instinctively. “It’s okay. You don’t have to be scared.”
She pulls her hand out of his, her eyes averted and Gabriel stands there awkwardly until Peter comes back. He smiles at Maya in success and then turns a steely face to Gabriel.
“If you pull any shit I’ll hurl your ass back here myself.”
Gabriel stares at the shorter man incredulously. “Sure you will. If you’re finished macho posturing I’d like to find my daughter?”
Pleased that he’s undermined the man Gabriel reaches for Maya’s hand but she goes to Peter instead. Gabriel reluctantly grabs Peter’s arm and with a curt nod at the wardens Peter teleports them away.