Adventures of Matt Parkman, Chapter 24: Coming to America
Matt's heart became heavier with every step he took on the way back to the car. He hesitated next to it. He wanted to get in the back next to Molly, but her terrified eyes told him that wasn't a good idea. Gingerly he opened the passenger door, trying not to get too much blood on the handle, and got in next to his father. Maury put the car into drive and got them out of there before the authorities could show up.
Matt sat with his hands on his knees, palms up. They were covered in Mohinder's drying blood. He stared at them, but he hardly saw them. His mind kept playing in a loop, seeing Mohinder bleeding around his fingers as he tried to staunch the flow, seeing Mohinder's face as the other man tried to choke the life out of him - the rage, the disgust, the betrayal. His limp form as Matt had left to find Mohinder's mother. It was the same as the painting he'd made months ago. He'd known this was going to happen. He'd thought that talking his father into letting him handle it would prevent it, but… it hadn't happened that way. He looked at his hands and saw Mohinder bleeding beneath them again as the circuit repeated.
He didn't know how many times it played though. Maury gave him a mental nudge, but Matt ignored him. Then there was the man's hand on his shoulder, warm and still. He pulled his eyes away from his bloody hands and looked at his father. The older man said, "There's an irrigation ditch. Go wash your hands." He jerked his chin and eyes to indicate outside the car, beyond Matt, and pushed him slightly. The younger man realized the car had stopped moving. Numbly, he got out and stumbled down the bank to the water.
He washed mechanically, watching as the blood colored the already muddy water. He hoped his friend survived. He hoped Molly was okay. He hoped his father wouldn't hurt her. He'd given up all hope of stopping Maury. He supposed there was a way, but he didn't bother to think about it. The man read his mind constantly enough that there was no point and even if there was, honestly, Matt didn't want to do it. His father had pulled him out of a pit, saved his life, and even if he'd taken Mohinder's… Matt couldn't think. He closed his eyes and shook his head. Why didn't I do something when she came out with the gun? I froze up. I froze up!
Matt slumped, on his knees next to the water. Tears filled his eyes and began to fall silently. He wanted to tell himself it didn't have to be that way, it was all his father's fault, but he'd seen Mohinder's face and felt his resolve. There was no way they were taking Molly from him without a fight. His father was right - once Mohinder knew they were using abilities, he would have done the same, with lethal consequences. But it had happened so fast! He wanted another chance. He wanted another chance at everything! His chest constricted so much he could hardly breathe.
He remembered telling his dad a few years ago that Maury knew nothing about being a good father and at that very moment Matt had been absent from Janice, who was carrying his son. Matt had been in the process of wresting Molly from a coma Maury had put her in and no doubt, there was a good explanation for that too. But Matt hadn't waited and he hadn't listened and things had happened so fast. Then it was his father in a coma and Matt was sure he'd done the right thing. He had no idea what the right thing was anymore and he was pretty sure, now, that hadn't been the right thing then. Things were so much more complicated than he could understand.
Even when I know the future, I can't fix the past. He reached out and touched the water where another teardrop had made ripples. He ran his fingers through the tiny barrier between liquid and air, watching it flow and eddy and ripple. He sniffed and his shoulders shook. Ryan was dead. Patty had left him, happy to be rid of him, he suspected. Matty would never know him. Janice was afraid of him. His father couldn't relate to him without this hellish leash controlling him. Molly thought he was a villain. Mohinder would hate not only Matt now, but himself, assuming he didn't die. He put his wet hands on his knees and sobbed.
His life was ruined. His father had known it. That's why he'd restricted him from hurting himself. Matt would, if he had the chance. Several times he'd contemplated it. He couldn't do it intentionally. He stared at the water and tried to think of how he could have an accident. He felt a tug at his mind again and he shut his eyes. His father was calling him, no doubt having sensed the suicidal turn to his thoughts. After a long beat he dug in his pockets for a handkerchief. He found nothing, so wiped his face on his sleeve. He rose unsteadily to his feet and brushed off his knees.
He trudged back to the car, taking a deep breath and putting himself back together. His father would not react well to him looking upset. Matt got in the car as normally as he could. Maury started it without a word and drove off. It was a long, silent ride, broken only by Maury talking on the cell phone to the in-country agent assigned to support them.
They dropped the car at the airport, then walked until they found a taxi and took it into the city. Matt didn't ask why. Neither did Molly. They rendezvoused with the agent, who had a suitcase for Molly and several changes of clothes. She'd also lined up an appointment with a hair stylist. Molly's hair was soon cut short and tinted red, her simple native clothing replaced by fashionable western garb.
Maury bought her some reflective sunglasses and made her wear them, completing the disguise that would help them avoid the inevitable search. Maury gave her commands and explained her role while Matt stood next to a brick wall and stared vacantly at the bustling city. His mind was as empty as his gaze. It was easier that way.
He didn't notice when his father's attention shifted to him or when he stood before him. He might have even been talking to him - Matt didn't know. He didn't notice until Maury slapped him. He hadn't hit him hard, but it brought Matt back to reality, however unwillingly. He blinked and rubbed his cheek, looking sullenly at the old man.
"Pull yourself together, Matthew. I don't want any problems at the airport. No accidents and you know what I mean. Molly can either be with me, or with you, and if you get yourself killed, then you know who that leaves her with. Do you understand me?"
Matt struggled to stay focused on the man. He was having trouble caring. Molly hated him anyway. Maury hit him again, harder this time. He still didn't care, but Molly squeaked. Matt jerked his head around and looked at her. She looked fearfully between the two of them. She didn't like them fighting. While Matt was looking at her, Maury put his hand on his chest and shoved him roughly against the wall. She made another sound and it cut through Matt like a knife, bringing clarity to his mind and pulling him out of his self-pity. He realized his father had pushed him back with the intention of provoking exactly this reaction in her, and in him.
Yep, that's right. Is it working? the older man thought to him.
Yeah. Matt's eyes tracked towards Molly again. Maury had found something he cared about. Matt was surprised and vaguely relieved it was there to find. I'll play along at the airport. Don't hurt her.
I don't have to hurt her. I just have to hurt you.
Matt felt a wave of irritation and pushed Maury away physically. He couldn't touch him mentally without setting off the link. What Maury was doing reminded him of how he'd manipulated Matt before with Ryan, striking the defenseless man in order to push Matt into letting Maury establish the link with him. Now he was striking Matt to blackmail Molly into behaving. Matt frowned, but went along with it.
His father thought to him, Good. Now get your head out of your ass and start thinking. Out loud he said, "Let's get back to New York."
Hours later on the flight, Molly had her own breakdown. At first she huddled by herself in the seat, crying silently, then insisted she had to go to the bathroom. Matt and Maury both knew this was untrue, at least for the usual reason one went to the bathroom. Matt saw the expression on his father's face as he blocked her from getting out of their row of seats.
Maury told her, "Sit down, you selfish little bitch - and be quiet." He turned towards her and she shrank back from his unwarrantedly vicious comment.
Matt put his arms around her and pulled her to him, looking over her head at Maury in mute challenge. He'd seen his father set off by people crying before. She struggled free of him for a moment and looked back at the older man, then made a frightened sound at his visage and took refuge against Matt. She had to turn to someone.
Please no, Pop. No! Let me handle it. I'll handle it. I've got this. I'll keep her quiet. It's okay. It's okay. He stroked Molly's head. Maury bared his teeth at him and then turned away, clearly trying to calm himself down and avoid making things worse with his own outburst.
It's okay, it's okay, Matt kept thinking, trying to project calm, assurance and acceptance. It's going to be all right.
After over a minute, Maury thought to him, She can't hear you, Matt. The only one you're projecting to is me. His father's mental tone was surprisingly gentle.
Uh… erm. Matt silenced himself, having no idea why he'd done that, more surprised still that it seemed to have worked. Maury was calm and no longer angry about Molly weeping. Matt put his mind to something else, not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth. He looked to the girl and gathered her against him.
He murmured to her, "I know this is terrible. I'm so sorry, Molly. I'm going to do what I can to help you." He drew strength from her need and resolve from her weakness. She sobbed quietly, shaking. Other passengers looked and expressed concern, but none of them interfered. Maury glared at any who looked likely to say anything and they abruptly found better things to do with their attention.
Matt was surprised they got to New York without any more incident than that. Maury had all the right paperwork for the girl, though her name was listed as Molly Jones. They went through customs without a hitch and took a taxi to the Petrelli house. Matt stared up at the place blankly. It looked like the sort of place a woman like Angela Petrelli would live, where people as privileged as Nathan and Peter Petrelli would have grown up.
"Hello there," Angela said to them after a dour-faced butler had seen them into the dining room. She was setting out some sandwiches in front of a variety of soda cans. "Matt, Molly - help yourselves. Maury, I need to speak with you separately."
He nodded and snagged a sandwich anyway as he followed Angela into some other room. Matt pulled out a chair and sank into it heavily. He hadn't eaten much for the last two days, between being nervous about the trip and upset about how things turned out afterwards. He pulled over a plate and put a sandwich on it. Molly did the same, watching him surreptitiously. He selected a can of soda and so did she. He smiled and opened it. She followed suit.
He looked over at her and she looked away, ignoring him pointedly. He smiled a little. Somehow, after all that had happened, she was still playful. It cheered him. He picked up his soda and drank. She looked back and said, "Matt… What he said… back in Chennai before we went to the airport… I don't want to live with him. Let me stay with you, please?"
He put the drink down. He didn't think he'd have much say in the matter. "I'll see what I can do." Dad? he projected.
Busy, came back the curt reply.
Matt ate his sandwich, then went for a second one. By the time he was finishing, Maury came back in with Angela in tow. He looked at Molly and told her, "Go in there and do what Angela tells you to. Use your ability. She has a list of people you need to locate."
Molly had finished her sandwich earlier. She nodded silently and shot a look at Matt, who gave her a supportive nod. She went. Maury sat in her seat and put a sandwich on her plate for himself. He opened a Pepsi and pushed her root beer to the side. He set down a sheet of paper next to him. It had a dozen thumbnail pictures of people with a small block of text and vitals next to each.
Matt reached over and moved the paper so he could see it better. Maury tensed at the movement and Matt flinched. He realized he should have telegraphed the motion before doing it. Maury didn't lash out of him. He just picked up his soda and took a long, slow drink. Matt scanned down the pictures very briefly, enough to see he didn't recognize any of them. He pushed the list back slowly. Sorry, he thought.
S'okay. I snap at you too much.
Matt's brows pulled together slowly and he looked at his father with a growing confusion. Um… okay. I… I am sorry. I won't forget again.
Don't worry about it.
Matt tilted his head and gave himself a small shake. He took another drink of his soda. He wasn't worried as much as surprised. As he thought back on it, Maury had been less harsh since the episode on the plane. He thought it was probably best not to dwell on it and thought to the other man, So, are those the people she's finding? His mind referenced the paper Matt had looked at.
No, his father answered. That's my list. Hers is different. These are people the Company has locked up that Angela wants me to take a look at, rehabilitate if I can. They've been in too long.
What are they in for?
Different stuff.
Matt took a deep breath and finished his second sandwich. He correctly interpreted the non-answer as a direction not to inquire further. He took a drink and pushed his plate away a little. Okay. You said on the plane that I'd get details for the… for my assignment in Boston when we got here.
Yeah. Let me get on that right now. He pulled out his phone and dialed. "Hey, Bennet? … I'm back in New York with the package. Remember those partners we discussed before? … Uh-huh. Is tomorrow too soon? … Okay, yeah, that'd be fine. Where at? … Yeah, sure. I'll ask her, but if I don't call back, consider it good. I'll see you then. One o'clock. … Good." He hung up and looked away from Matt as Angela came into the room. "I'm going to interview partners for Matt here tomorrow. Is here okay?"
She frowned. "Yes. I'm going to have other work for you quite soon. We can talk afterwards if you're already here."
Maury nodded. "Yep. That's why I need to get him set up and cut loose as soon as possible." After a beat, he asked, "How's it going?" He gestured in the direction of the other room, where Molly was.
"I think the Walker system is back online. We need to make arrangements for long-term storage."
'Storage,' Matt thought in distaste. He frowned at the table and took a last drink out of his Dr. Pepper.
Maury said, "I'm going to leave her with Matt."
Matt twitched, surprised. He had assumed his father hadn't listened to the earlier conversation between himself and Molly, not if he'd been busy on another front. On the other hand, Maury had already discussed that she'd be staying with one of them.
Angela raised a brow. "Oh?" There was an unspoken challenge there, as if with Matt wasn't where she wanted Molly to be.
"Yeah." Maury answered it with a trace of defiance in his voice.
Angela looked past him at Matt, who looked back at her levelly. He had the odd impression his father was sticking up for him. She said, "Very well." After a moment she added, "I need to see if she's done yet." Angela turned and left again.
Matt cleared his throat and said to his father, "Thank you."
Maury looked at him and gave him an odd, half-smile. It was probably as close to a 'you're welcome' as he was likely to get. Matt nodded. He didn't need to hear it.