Heroes Fic: A Capable Woman 11/28 Adam Vs Arthur

 Chapter Eleven

Arthur, Angela, Adam, Bob, Peter (Five), Nathan (Seventeen)

Notes: I still don't have my regular beta (thank you sooo much by7the7sea) so, if there are any glaring mistakes please PM me and let me know

1985

Angela Petrelli spent her thirtieth birthday soaking wet climbing up the side of a building in the rain by a grappling line. On her 34th birthday, she was crawling her way out of a dirty marsh. And on the eve of Angela Petrelli’s 39th Birthday, she died for the first time.

Peter was five and Nathan was seventeen.

Angela felt the pain seethe inside of her, there was so much blood, that’s all she could remember, and she felt so weak, lifeless, as if she was just about to have another dream. Arthur was irate, demanding she hold on, but she couldn’t, she wasn’t even sure what to hold on to anymore. She could suddenly taste the blood in her mouth start to pour through her gums, and that was the last thing she remembered, until she woke up a day or so later on a hospital bed at Primatech Research, feeling just as weak, but without a scratch on her. They had to tell Angela she had died. She had no idea.

Arthur insisted she recover at home with her family.

Arthur helped her into the house. He supported her by her back and waist and held onto her slender fingers with his left hand, guiding her inside the house. When she entered the foyer Angela looked around a bit dazed. She had that sick- to-your-stomach feeling one gets when you’re woken up after you’ve just fallen asleep.

Nathan remembered how she wouldn’t take anyone’s gaze, her eyes darted around the room as if she wasn’t sure where she was, and she looked pale and tired. She looked dead, little did he know. He had been home with Peter for three days, which wasn’t unusual. Nathan took care of his brother when his parents were away, but up until that point it was the longest he had done so. Looking back the Petrellis always seem to leave town with very little notice. It was one of the many reasons their boys were so close – for Nathan had been like a third parent, sometimes even a first.

Peter ran from the steps and past Nathan, who stood at the back of the foyer watching his parents, unsure what to do next. Nathan couldn’t help but look at his mother with a stare of fear as memories of his childhood danced in his head. Nathan caught his father’s eyes and Nathan knew he would be there for his father in this time of crisis, for his mother. He knew his father needed him.

Peter wrapped his little arms around his mother for dear life, it had been their longest separation, three days. He had no idea Angela Petrelli had been dead for almost two of them. She ran her fingers through his hair, but didn’t look at him.

Nathan remembers being surprised at that. She didn’t look at Peter, he wasn’t even sure if she knew where she was. She didn’t. Angela had been dead longer than anyone at the Company who had been revived by Adam’s blood; it was a record.

Angela Petrelli’s body was too exhausted to do much of anything. Her husband and Nathan put Angela to bed in silence. Nothing was said, they just tended to her.

Finally, after Nathan and Arthur were done and Angela closed her eyes, Arthur turned to his son.

“What happened?” Nathan asked him.

“Put your brother to bed and we’ll talk in the other room.”

The following is how Nathan remembers the conversation.

“Pop?” Nathan asked as he entered his father’s den, which was off the bedroom, and across from Peter’s room. “Is she passing out again, I thought that was behind us?”

“Shhh.” Arthur looked around and closed the door. “I don’t want your brother —“

Nathan interrupted his father. “Pop, what happened?” Nathan was concerned.

Arthur started to circle the room. “Listen, kid...” He looked at his son. “She’s fine, don’t worry. She just needs her rest.” He paused for a moment and stopped circling the room. “ I didn’t want to tell you this over the phone – your mother– she had a miscarriage.”

Nathan was shocked. “She was pregnant?” Shocked that he had no idea. He knew she was still young enough.

“Almost three months. We didn’t want to say anything to you boys until things were out of the woods.” He paused and looked at his son straight out. “There’s something we never told you...before you were born--your mother... it’s always been very hard for her to carry a child. We almost lost you. She had two miscarriages before you were born. We both weren’t even sure if she’d carry Peter to term.”

“I didn’t—“

“We just felt it was private.”

“But, you’re telling me this now?”

Arthur walked over to his son and gripped the boy’s shoulder in a loving gesture. “Your mother lost a lot of blood this time – she’s weak right now – not just emotionally, her entire body –it’s exhausted. What she needs is rest and sleep. I don’t want you to worry. Peter’s too young to understand, but you’re an adult now, you’re my boy – you can handle this.” Arthur nodded his head at him. “ I need you to be here for her, for me – for Peter. That boy, he’s only five, but he’s a sensitive kid. He needs you to be here for him, for us – for your family.“ He paused. “Can you do that for me, Nathan?”

Nathan nodded his head.

“Thank you,” he lightly tapped the side of Nathan’s face. “I knew you’d come through for me.”

Young Nathan nodded his head and smiled sheepishly before leaving the room.

This was just another example of how with half truths, Petrellis had no problem using each other to keep their secrets. The secrets had just become more important. The secrets now had the control. One day Angela would use her husband’s past for the same purpose – to hide the truth, for she knew he would have done the same in her shoes.

That night, Arthur Petrelli sat by his wife’s bedside. He sat there the entire night. At one point Nathan caught sight of his father sitting there, before standing at one point and caressing the side of his mother’s face. He saw it as a loving gesture, but what he didn’t know was that deep inside Arthur looked at his wife with only one thought in his head, he had again made a pact with the devil to save his family. And it would be something he would do, and had been already doing, many times, over and over again, it really didn’t matter anymore.

Angela slept for two days almost and when she awoke she wanted to know what had happened. And her husband told her the tale.

It was getting harder and harder to get Adam Monroe to give blood. He would fight it, perhaps out of spite, perhaps out of his own sense of dignity, but he wasn’t going to give up his power so easily. The last two times he almost escaped and it was deemed too much of a risk to the world to try anymore attempts toward that goal, at least in the near future. It was the first time the rumblings started, “if we could only find another regenerator.”

“It’s just not worth the risk!” Bob scolded Arthur in his office. “You of all people know about what is good for ourselves and what is for the greater good. Angela would agree. You’re being selfish here. She’s gone, Arthur! Let it go! ”

“No. No.” Arthur wouldn’t take it. “I can’t– I won’t. I don’t accept this!.”

“I say you calm down. Linderman and Carlos are on their way.”

“I won’t wait.” Arthur stormed out of Bob’s office and Bob knew he couldn’t stop him.

Arthur walked into Adam’s cell and closed the door.

“Arthur?” Adam was shocked. “You’ve aged,” he said it with all sincerity. “What a pity for you,” he changed his demeanor to sarcasm.

“All I want is to talk.” His voice was calm.

“Talk?”

Arthur took off his suit jacket to reveal his gun holster peaking out from beside his vest.

“Is that suppose to scare me?”

“Nothing in my arsenal is going to scare you, Adam.” His voice was hard and had a low timbre to it, it had no joy in it at all. “Believe me, I’m not here to scare you. I don’t think I could.” He adjusted his holster for a moment. “Of course...’ He gestured out with his hands, “ that doesn’t mean I can’t use it for my own sadistic purposes.” He sauntered toward Adam for a moment. “I understand a bullet does pack a stinging punch before you heal. I should know. A real killjoy, I believe.”

“You’re here to ask for my blood, aren’t you?”

“I’m not asking for myself.”

“Clearly,” he retorted.

“Angela’s dead,” Arthur said pointedly.

“Good news or bad?” he replied sarcastically

Arthur gave Adam a deadly look, he wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

Adam rolled his eyes half way toward the ceiling. “Bad news, then.” Adam got serious. “I’m sorry. I really am, Arthur. Angela was – well she was Angela, wasn’t she? But, I guess you’re all running around like chickens with your heads cut off without your precious pre-cog. All of you need her.”

“I need her.”

Adam nodded his head, a little sarcastically, if that was possible.

“My children need her.”

“Children?”

“We have two sons now.”

“So Linderman’s magic finally took hold.”

“Peter’s only five.” He pushed down his emotion. “ He…he thinks his mother is away visiting family,” he scoffed, almost grumbling.

“Well congratulations on finally hitting your mark there, Arthur.” He raised his eyebrows at Arthur.

“Nathan is seventeen.”

“Yes, it has been about that long hasn’t it,” he nodded his head slowly.

“He can get along without his mother, but the boy – Peter... he needs her – he’s too young, he’s too sensitive for this. He’s not built for it, I can already see it.”

“And what do I get out of the bargain?”

“Nothing. You get nothing.” He was cold.

“Well, for me I guess it’s a lose, lose situation.”

“Please, Adam, “ he retorted. Arthur Petrelli was actually begging. It came out as a command, but it was a beg. It was now obvious Arthur was holding in his emotions.

“Well, well, well. The great Arthur Petrelli is vulnerable.” Adam walked toward Arthur and stopped inches from his ear. “After everything she’s done to you, abused your trust. The deceptions. Flaunting her power in front of you – over you. This is what you want?”

“Nothing I haven’t done right back to her.”

“And the world, it seems.” He paused. “Maybe the word sadistic is being used in the wrong context here, Arthur.”

“I’m asking you...if you have any humanity left inside of that old, bitter, hard shell of yours Adam, you’ll do this. For my children. For my family. After all you’ve already done. The damage you’ve caused.”

“Yes, those ‘super’ children of yours,’ his tone was biting and wry.

“There is no proof of that!” Arthur snapped back.

“Proof!? Proof!? Arthur, I’m staring it in the face,” he laughed. “I myself am new to modern science, but I think I can make an educated guess here,” his tone was not just sarcastic but holier-than-thou. “You and Angela need to stop being in denial. Stop self-loathing yourselves for what you can do and then you’ll really have power — that is what power is! Control.” He paused and looked Arthur over.

Arthur looked devastated.

“You still love her?” Adam seemed more shocked.

Arthur gritted his teeth and spoke instantly. “Yes.”

“Now, that’s the pity.” He smirked and his words were cold and hardened. “From hundreds of years of experience, I say this--”

Arthur pulled his gun from the holster and stormed Adam, pushing him up against the concrete wall. He held his gun against Adam’s throat and chin. His voice was angry and husky, “Maybe I just do what we all should have done back in ‘77. I blow your head off! Don’t think the idea hasn’t crossed our minds. Maybe I don’t care how ‘valuable’ you are. So what? You regenerate, you don’t regenerate. I really could care less. We all thought, back then, blowing your head off was cruel and unusual punishment for your crime. Funny enough more if you did live, than if you didn’t.– we didn’t even wanna try. Maybe we’re all foolish, maybe we’re all still duped by you. I guess history does a lot, doesn’t it Adam? You know all about history, don’t you?” He dug the gun deeper into Adam’s chin and Adam grimaced. “But, hell – you know me. I don’t care very much for that–for history, or rules, or listening to others. If anything-- if this doesn’t work -- it sure as hell will burn, won’t it? I’ve already died once, its nothing I fear anymore – you’ve died a million times over, what’s one more time for old times sake.”

Adam looked a little uneasy, but he tried to mask it as much as he could. “Think of your children, Arthur.”

Arthur laughed, “Trying to work your magic again? That line of questioning doesn’t work with me – it worked with Angela, but ha... she’s not here is she? Although, I doubt if she was... you’d still be able to dupe her with that line anymore. We’ve grown from that, Adam. We all have. Your games don’t work anymore. Experience has taught us that. And as you know I’m a vengeful man and I don’t mind killing you for spite. I’ve already mourned my wife, I will not mourn for you. You’re the one who brought this into my house, this plague – ”

Arthur broke away from Adam and left him where he was. Arthur knew he had gone too far and there was no way he would get anywhere towards his goal this way. He had to stop. Adam was controlling him, again. Arthur ran his hand over his mouth for a moment before speaking. “I was going to come in here and talk to you, man-to-man,” he said as if he already knew his mistake. Arthur put his gun away.

“Well, that was never really your style now was it, Arthur?” Adam sat down on his cot and looked up at Arthur who stood across the room from him.

“No, not really, “ Arthur smirked at Adam, in an almost evil way, as he made sure his gun was secure in its setting. “We were friends once.”

“Yes.”

“Were we really, were we really friends, Adam? Or were you just using us for your little games?”

“We were friends, Arthur.” He said sincerely, but that was hard to tell with Adam.

“What do you want?” Arthur put his hand in his pockets. “Freedom?” Arthur nodded his head and looked over at the man.

“I’ve learned my lesson.” He sounded sincere.

“Have you now?” He wasn’t quite sure if he believed him. He paused for a moment and circled the room. “What if I told you, I could get you out of here.” He stopped and looked at Adam. “Don’t worry they never wired these rooms for sound.” He gestured with his head. "We keep saying we will, but no one ever seems to get around to it,” he rambled.

“I’m listening then.”

“If anyone can get you out of here, it would be me.”

Adam said nothing, he eyed him. “And I’m to believe that?”

“My family...” Arthur got a little emotional. “It’s all I have, it’s my life. I fight this fight for them. I save the world for them, so they can be safe, so they don’t have to have the same burdens and pain I have. To leave a better world for them. You can believe me Adam, when I say, I’d do this for you – for my family. You have my word. And my word is my bond.” He paused and the two men stared each other down. “The choice is yours. Trust me? Or don’t trust me,” He said gruffly. “ It’s up to you.”

Arthur stood on the other side of the jail cell door as Adam placed his blood bags, five of them, into a small compartment – it was enough to save Angela and then some. Adam closed the compartment door from inside his cell and as soon as it was secure Arthur opened it from his side. Arthur removed the blood bags and handed them to a man in a white lab coat. The man in the lab coat nodded his head to Arthur and Arthur did the same, before the man walked off and out of sight.

Adam spoke through a set of breathing holes in the plastic door of his cell. “So...” He leaned in as if they were about to share a secret. “ When does it look like I’m getting out of here? “Adam said with an evil tone.

“Oh, you’re not.” Arthur said flatly.

Adam seethed and his eyes widened.

Arthur smirked and leaned in. “It burns doesn’t it?” he raised his eyebrows. “How does it feel to be duped, Monroe? ”He paused. “Lacks a sense of control... don’t you think?” he said sarcastically.

“What about your word, Petrelli.” he gritted his teeth. “Your bond?”

“A Petrelli always keeps a promise,” he raised his eyes with an evil half grin. “ Just not to you, Adam.” Arthur leaned back and adjusted his suit. “ Maybe I’m sadistic that way.” He smirked and adjusted the button on his jacket sleeve. He then walked away from Adam’s cell and down the hallway.

“Petrelli!” Adam screamed. “You can’t do this to me! Petrelli!! You owe me! For so much! So much!”

Arthur was just about to the end of the hallway when Adam yelled one last time, “Petrellllllllllllliiiiiiiiii!”

And Arthur closed the door with a loud and dooming sound that echoed through the prison. There was no way the Company would ever get blood again from Adam Monroe - it was now a certainty.

What Arthur Petrelli could never have known was that by saving his wife, he had put another nail in the coffin of his granddaughter Claire’s fate, by unwillingly lighting a fire under the Company’s new goal -- finding another regenerator – a new messiah of sorts. The rumblings would soon become a loud chatter, with none other than Arthur Petrelli leading the charge.

Next Chapter: Angela first dreams of Claire and plans are made.

Let me take this time to remind you to feedback. Constructive, good or bad -- you have to remember that if I don't get reviews... how am I to know if my work is any good, or how to improve if it is not. Even just one word... just lets me know people are out there. If this story has given you any joy -- please understand it takes a lot of my hard work and time. If you don't respond to it I can only assume it is not worth finishing. I thank you for reading and for everyone who has sent me such construtive and great reviews -- it really helps to know what people are getting and what they are not. Thank you.