Heroes Fan Fic: A Capable Woman: 15/28 - How the Bennets got Claire

Angela & Arthur Petrelli

Manhattan

Late February, 1992

Angela was surprised to find Arthur home during the day. Peter was at school and Nathan was studying for his law boards over at the Columbia University library.

“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” She knew there had to be a catch.

“Close the door,” he softly instructed her.

“Is it Peter?” Angela was agitated.

“No.” He walked behind her and closed the bedroom door. “Peter’s fine.”

“What is it, then?” She hated to be toyed with.

“There’s been a fire in Texas.”

“A fire? Meredith? Claire, is she alright?!”

Arthur tried to find the best way to tell her. “It’s over, Angela.” He paused. “The Company – they tried to bag and tag Meredith, I’m sure she was caught by surprise – there was a fire, an explosion, she’s dead – the Company has Claire.” He took hold of her arms for comfort.

“No!” She broke away from him and started for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“I can’t just stand by and do nothing!”

“Angela,” Arthur grabbed her.. “It’s over, Angela. We say anything –anything and they know that girl is ours – that she belongs to this family and then the questions come out and they find out we’ve been hiding that girl from them. Then what? If you try and help her anymore you’ll be putting this entire family at risk. You have to let it go, Angela. It’s over. Let Claire go!” He let go of her and gestured out with both his hands.

“Not yet,” she snarled at him.

“It’s over!”

“It’s not over until I say it’s over!” Her resolve was absolute

“She’s in the serpents teeth, Angela. How do you suggest we get her out without it biting our hands off in the process?” He grabbed her by both her arms this time and shook her for a moment. “You can’t save yourself by saving her. We’ve already lost our souls to hell. You can’t use her to make it all better. Saving her won’t change anything.”

“I just want to give her the choices I never had.” Her eyes watered. “Please,” she pleaded.

He took a breath and let go of her. Arthur walked the length of the room, as if debating something in his head, before turning to her looking spent and deflated. “What do we do then?”

Angela Petrelli

Central Park

Angela looked down at the Angel of The Water statue, as she stood on the Bethesda terrace, over looking the fountain. It was late winter, but it felt like an early fall day. Children played around her and young couples walked with baby carriages. Angela wore a heavy black coat and gloves, but it was hardly needed. She looked like an angel herself, standing on the overpass, looking down on the people below, her shoulder length hair being tossed lightly by the cool breeze.

“The angel,” Kaito Nakamura’s voice caused Angela to turn and look at him. “Now you I never took as the nostalgic type, Angela.”

Angela motioned with her head and Kaito told his men to leave; he knew the signal.

“Can we walk?” she asked.

Kaito nodded his head and the two walked further into the park.

“What do you want, Angela. I have a feeling this isn’t an old friends visit. Usually we meet in my office.”

“There’s a child. We tried to bag and tag the mother in Texas. There was a fire.” Angela put her hands in her pockets as they walked.

“Yess...” Kaito was a man of very few words; he knew sometimes it was best to just listen.

“What is being done with the child?” She was all business.

“You brought me all the way out here for this, to–“

“Humor me.” she smiled slyly at him and then looked forward again. “What’s to happen to the child?”

“Usual protocol, why?”

“I see...” They walked a step. “Even if her ability is unknown or if she will even manifest?” She set a strand of hair behind her ear. “When the father is unknown?”

“Yes, usually in these cases the child has already manifested, when we take them on...”

“Perhaps new sets of protocol need to be set into motion. You’re always very good at doing that.”

“Angela, I thought you had given up on this little crusade of yours.”

“This is different.”

“How?” His voice was forceful, as it resonated through the air.

Angela stopped; she looked around slightly to be sure they weren’t being followed.

“I knew there was a reason we didn’t meet in my office. What is it, Angela?”

They continued walking.

Finally, Angela spoke. “I came to you, because I know you’d keep my secret, Kaito.”

“Of course I will. You can always trust me, Angela.”

“Because I know we have the same thoughts about our children and this Company...” Her last word ran disdainfully off her lips.

“Does Arthur know you’re here...?”

She turned to look at him. “Yes. He doesn’t like that I’m coming to you, but we have to. This concerns him as well.”

“About two years ago Nathan was in Texas, he,..he... met a woman there, a girl really – well he’s only a boy himself...” She took off her gloves slowly by the fingertips. “A youthful folly, an adolescent indiscretion -- nothing to take note of. “ She set her gloves on her lap. “But the woman – she’s one of us and now... there is a child.” Angela held in her tears. “This child, you have. This girl –she is...” She took in a depth breath of emotion. “She’s my granddaughter, Kaito. And I have already done everything I can possible think of to keep her from this life and this Company. If I say anything, if Arthur and I say anything we could compromise who she is– and if it’s discovered we’ve been hiding her all this time...” She leaned in closer to him. “I’m trying to save my family, Kaito,” she pressed. “You’re the only one I trust to turn to with this.” Her eyes said it all, how desperate she was. For Angela it was a vulnerable moment; moments she hardly let show anymore. “Will you help me? Will you help me keep my secret?”

Kaito looked at her with a hard face and she didn’t know if he would be loyal to her or turn her in. She was taking a chance, but she had no other choice; Kaito really was her last hope. Yet she believed in her heart that he still cared for her - that they still shared the same ideals. Even after so many years, somehow, Angela still had faith - it was all she had left.

The Petrellis

Manhattan

Nathan, now twenty-three years old, answered the door before Angela could get to it. Angela stopped in her tracks when Kaito entered the house. She knew what Kaito would say would make or break Claire’s future. Seeing him that afternoon had brought up old memories. Good memories, which was rare for Angela. Angela and Kaito stared at each other in the silence; they didn’t need words to speak. Kaito nodded his head. Angela knew that meant it was done.

“Nathan, go check on your brother for me, would you?” She gestured with her hand, but didn’t look at him.

“Ma, I was just—“ Nathan was too busy studying for his finals to want to deal with his little brother.

“Please, Nathan. Check on your brother.” She looked at him sternly, her hands clasped together in front of her.

Nathan wasn’t sure what was going on. “Ahh, yeah... sure, Ma.” He looked at Kaito for a moment before making his way up the stairs to check on Peter.

Angela led Kaito into Arthur’s study, where her husband was waiting for them. The fireplace was lit; it crackled bright and loud. The lighting was low, keeping the colors in the room dim with offsets of bright light near the lighting fixtures throughout the room. With the dark, thick night sky outside it made the room feel solemn. Arthur was facing the fireplace, his back to the door as they entered.

Kaito walked in first and Angela closed the door behind them with a loud crack.

“It’s done,” she said firmly.

Arthur turned slowly toward them and Kaito and Arthur caught eyes. Angela could tell they were acting like tigers, almost mentally circling each other. They had been at occasional meetings in larger groups, but this was the first time in almost fifteen years that they were really alone in a room together - forced to do talk face to face. Plus, there was the added tension of what they both knew: Arthur hated to be asking Kaito for such a favor, but Arthur had no choice.

“I think we’re all adults.” Angela said briskly. “I think we can leave the past in the past.”

There was a small pause between all of them.

“So, it’s done?” Arthur finally spoke, showing he could move on to what was at hand.

“Yes.” Kaito set his briefcase on Arthur’s desk and opened it with a loud snap. He removed a file and closed the case. He handed the file to Angela. “His name is Bennet. He was the one who tried to bag and tag the mother...him and the invisible man, Claude.”

Kaito faced Angela and Arthur as Angela looked over the file. “Wife. Sandra. 28. Housewife. He is young, but very loyal. One of our most promising new men at the Company. Bob likes him, he is one of Ivan’s trainees, so it wasn’t hard to get his approval past the others for the assignment. He has a home life, he is loyal. That is why I chose him.”

Arthur walked up to Angela and she handed him the file to look over.

“My argument was that it was best for the child until she manifests. Until then we have no use for her.”

“Then what?” Arthur asked.

“We will instruct Bennet that if and when she manifests...”

Angela and Arthur looked at each other.

“He must then give her back to the Company. That she belongs to us. It was the only way I could get them to agree to this. I had to make it look like it was with our best interest in mind. Once she manifests, I can do no more. This is the best I can offer.”

Angela and Arthur looked at each other and Angela nodded her head.

“We have a back-up plan, don’t worry.” Arthur threw the file on his desk with a clap. “When the time comes, we’ll be ready.” He looked at Angela and she looked back at him in silent agreement.

“When does it happen?” Angela asked.

“Tomorrow. The Deveaux roof. By tomorrow afternoon your granddaughter will have a normal life in Texas, as Claire Bennet...and no one will know she was ever a Petrelli.”

Arthur was silent for a moment. He took a breath and looked Kaito in the eye. “Thank you,” he said with emotion in his voice - it was very big of Arthur. It still didn’t mean Arthur liked him.

“Your secret is safe with me.” Kaito bowed his head and Arthur did the same.

Angela eyed Arthur to see if he was alright, but he had already given her his back.

“I’ll show you out.” Angela opened the door to the study and walked Kaito to the door.

As Angela and Kaito reached the foyer and the entranceway, what they couldn’t possibly know was that Nathan was making his way down the stairs above them from Peter’s room. Nathan stopped at the landing just in time to watch his mother lean in and hug Kaito goodbye.

“Thank you,” Angela whispered into his ear, but Nathan couldn’t hear that part, as the hug between Kaito and Angela lasted a little bit longer then it should between a married women and another man who was not her husband. Angela wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and let go of the hug.

Kaito squeezed her hand for one last moment, nodded his head and finally left the Petrelli home for good; he would never return there again.

Angela walked back to Arthur’s study as Nathan watched on from above, suspicious of something, yet having no idea what was really going on under the surface. Not knowing that they had been playing with his life like he was a chess piece. Nathan had no idea the hug concerned him.

Angela found Arthur seated at his desk looking over Bennett’s file. They Angela exchanged looks. He pushed the file forward to the front of his desk and leaned back in his chair, watching her. Angela walked right up to the file, took it in her left hand and threw it in the fire with one soft, skillful gesture. She didn’t even watch it burn. She didn’t have to; she knew it would.

“If they ever discover what we’ve done, Angela.’ He said in his most graveled, deep, voice. “ One of us must take the fall... the sole blame.” He looked at her hard. “We both can’t go down with this ship. Someone has to stay behind to protect this family.”

Angela looked at him with her stern eyes of steel. “Agreed.”

He nodded his head slightly. “That’s my girl.”

Yes, she was his girl. After all, Angela Petrelli was a direct creation of her husband, if they would admit it or not. Angela had learned well, and sacrificing herself for others, for a larger goal, was not something she was averse to; it was part of her life now. She was first and foremost a mother - just one who wasn’t adverse to violence if need be. Angela and Arthur Petrelli understood what morally grey meant; they, after all, had helped invent it.

Angela & Kaito

Downtown Manhattan

Kirby Plaza

Angela was surprised when the next morning she was asked to Kaito’s office by his assistant. She felt it was safe; after all she was meeting Kaito at his Kirby Plaza office, leaving her nowhere near Charles’ place and the “drop off site,” as they were now calling it.

She was led into Kaito’s office and he nodded to his men to leave them alone.

Angela eyed him in her way. “Three times in one week. I think this is a record for us.” She took off her gloves and looked around, setting them between her fingers. “ Well, a new record.” She gestured with her head and walked toward him. It was then that she heard a baby cry. Kaito stepped out of the way to reveal Claire was in a bassinet behind him.

It was like her breath stopped and her entire stomach sank to the ground. She was frozen. She was caught, scared like a dear in the headlights.

“It’s the child from the fire. I’m sure I mentioned the case.” He circled her. “I’m doing the handoff today. This afternoon. ”

Angela was not pleased; her mouth seemed to seethe with silent fury and without a word she turned toward the door; she had to get out of there.

Kaito took her arm, stooping her in her tracks. He whispered to her, close, so the cameras couldn’t hear him or see his mouth move, “You will regret this, Angela, if you don’t at least take a look at her.” He broke away and spoke normally. “I know how interested you are with children within this Company. Perhaps you would like to take a look.” Kaito knew she would hate him for this, but he didn’t care, he knew it was something he had to do. For Angela he had to do it.

Angela took a breath and sucked in all her emotions, like she always did. She turned toward the bassinet. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see Claire; she was just afraid of how she would react. She was afraid of caring. Caring even more then she already did for Nathan’s daughter. Fearing that with one look she would be lost- finished.

Angela had to take another deep breath. She would have to do this; she could do this. Finally, Angela took the final step and saw her granddaughter, in person, for the first time, after seeing her so often in dreams. And she was right, seeing Claire set Angela’s emotions raging. Her eyes turned red from holding her tears in. She sent a shaky hand toward Claire, but stopped and pulled it back. She tugged in her lips and took another breath; her head swayed from side to side from the weight of it. She gulped and set her arm out again toward Claire, this time setting her fingers on the little girls chest, rustling her hands over the warm fabric of Claire’s clothes. It was all so overwhelming.

There was a knock at the door. Angela pulled her hand away sharply and walked away from the baby.

“It’s time to leave, Mr. Nakamura,” said a voice.

“Thank you, please inform my son we are leaving,” Kaito answered.

Angela kept her back to the door and Claire. When the door closed she turned to Kaito.

“It’s the right thing to do.” Angela ‘s eyes were wet, but her face was resolute. “It’s the right thing to do.”

“Yes.” Kaito nodded his head.

Angela left without saying another word. She walked to her car without saying a word. She rode in the back seat on the ride home without saying a word. Walked to her home and up the stairs to her bedroom without one word or gesture. It was only then, alone, where no one else could see her that Angela Petrelli cried - for it was the right thing to do. Weakness in public was a weapon others could use upon her; she would never let that happen. If her weakness was a weapon, only she would use it.

And when Arthur Petrelli found her she cried in his arms, for it was the only safe place she felt she could. And that night Arthur made love to his wife for the first time in a long time. It was a beautiful moment between them.

And as she slept, Angela did something she hadn’t done in a long time - she had a pleasant dream. She dreamt of the Bennet home: of Sandra and Noah Bennet and the parents they would be to Claire. Of Claire and Lyle and carpooling and cheerleading practices and birthday parties. And when she awoke she whispered in her husband’s ear, “It was the right thing to do.”

Kaito had chosen Bennet wisely. He would protect her; he would take care of her. Claire would have what Angela never did: “a choice.”

Next Chapter: Heidi