Damage Control

[occupymymind]

With a scared little girl, a headache that was never going to fade and another year's worth of nightmare material, Mohinder excuses them from Elle and Maya's presence and races to get Molly home.

Comments

[teleparkman]

After what seemed like far too long, but was probably only about an hour, Matt called back. "Mohinder? This really isn't a good time."

[occupymymind]

"No fucking shit," he mutters, which is the first sign something is seriously wrong. "Either you're home in the next two hours, or Molly's on a flight to India and I leave you a ticket to go and collect her when you can."

[teleparkman]

"What?" Matt pulled the phone away from his ear, stared at it for a minute, then put it back. "Mohinder, what the hell is going on?"

[occupymymind]

"Sylar came here."

There's quiet for a moment as he checks that Molly is packing. "He came here with a woman who had an out of control power. The Company used him as a test bed for the Shanti virus and he worked out I might be able to help.

"I cannot and will not risk him coming back for me and finding Molly. And I will not, will not stay at that Company anymore. I need to leave before either of them turns up and I need to know Molly is safe and I'm doing it now. Can you be home in an hour or two?"

[teleparkman]

"Oh, shit. Oh, motherfu--" Matt cut himself off. "No. I'm in Texas. Long story. But... Nathan's been shot."

[occupymymind]

Mohinder is silent for quite a while. "I- I'm so sorry. Is he- I mean, is he alive? Will he survive?"

He remembers someone else getting shot and getting up all right. He can hope.

"I'm putting Molly on the next flight to India. My cousin said she'll take her for up to a month, my mother's number is in your mobile, call her to get the details. Charu has five children, Molly won't be alone, but it's not safe with me. I'm not safe." His voice cracks slightly.

[teleparkman]

"Barely." Matt drew in a deep breath. "We don't know. I... I'll keep you posted."

He tried to store all of that in his memory. "Got it. Just... Tell Molly I love her, and I'll be there to get her as soon as I can. Shit, I should move, shouldn't I? They know where your place is..."

[occupymymind]

"Thank you. I'd appreciate that." He sighs slightly.

"They made it clear that their interest was me, and I hope that will vanish now I'm no longer a cure." He could hope. "I'm the danger, not the place. You and Molly can keep the apartment. The Company will almost certainly leave you alone and you can deal with them.

"It's not the Company I'm worried about coming back. The Company you can reason with. But I'll tell her. I'll transfer the money to your account for a ticket to India and for two return flights when you can go get her."

[teleparkman]

"But if Sylar knows..." Matt's heart suddenly felt like it had stopped. "She's not going back there."

[occupymymind]

"He's after me. He could have hurt her, he didn't." It was just that bit easier to confess on the phone. "You know Sylar and I have- history. He made a promise, months ago, that he wasn't done with me. So... I need to go. He'll follow me. Which keeps you and Molly safe."

There's a crash. "Sorry. Dropping things. We're packing now."

[teleparkman]

"Mohinder..." Matt paused for a long moment. "Just keep yourself safe. If you're sure about that... I don't like it, though. What's to say he won't come back for her?"

[occupymymind]

"Matthew, I've got a dregree in parapsychology. He won't come back for mer. The moment he promised her safety, that he just wanted me? He meant it. The only way she's in danger is if he can use her as leverage over me. I need to be with her for that to happen. Excuse me."

There's a long moments of silence as Mohinder forces his emotions in check again. "I might have screwed up the Company, and I definitely fucked things up with Noah, but if there is one thing I can handle, it's Sylar. If the best thing I can do for her is leave her with you, that's what I will do."

[teleparkman]

"You know I'll do everything I can to keep her safe." His voice was slightly rough. "I... is she holding out ok?"

[occupymymind]

"She's being brave." He trusts Matt won't call him on the waiver in his voice. "I never wanted to hurt anyone. I won't have her hurt. I- I'm sorry, Matthew. I should go and get Molly ready."

[teleparkman]

"Hug her for me, ok? And... good luck, Mohinder."

[occupymymind]

"I'll call. Please... don't ask her where I am. Don't let her look for me. I'll come back, if only to visit, when things cool down. I'll hug her for you. Give my best wishes to Nathan's family.

"Good bye, Matthew."