Hurt

The lights were all out when he finally returned to their home in California. Sandra knew not to wait up for him and the news might not have even reached this far yet.  

He hoped not.

            The front door swung open silently and shut with a click as Noah put his keys in the dish by the closet. He paused for a moment to rub the weariness out of his face, walking blindly into the living room.

            “Did you do it?”

            The sudden question, out of nowhere, had him reaching for his gun before his mind kicked in and he recognized that voice.

            “Claire….”

            She was sitting in the dark living room, her head and shoulders outlined by the stark light of the street light. No greeting, no welcome back hug, just cold fury.

            “Did you do it?”

            A cold stone of dread rolled around in Noah’s stomach at those words. Somehow, even though none of the cameras had gotten a look at him, he knew she knew.

            “I don’t know wha-“

            She surged forward, flicking on the lights as she stood and glared at him.

            “Don’t you dare lie to me!” Her voice was quiet but shrill as she spoke. “I know you were there! Now tell me, did you shoot Nathan Petrelli?”

            Instead of answering, the newly reinstated Company man tried to side-step. “Why would you think I had anything to do with what happened down in Odessa?”

            Claire closed her eyes as Noah realized he had misspoken. A tear ran down her cheek, startling him before she answered. “Maybe because you know what happened already. Maybe because we both know he was going to do the exact same thing you warned me not to. Or maybe I just know you.”

            He couldn’t avoid it any longer. “Claire, I had to. It was Company orders-“

            “I’m leaving.”

            His heart stopped. She was going to go to Odessa with Peter Petrelli and Nathan and Parkman and leave them. A sudden fury overtook him at the thought.

            “Don’t you understand? I will do anything to protect you! To make sure you’re never hurt-” Noah’s voice rose in disbelief and anger.

            “But you’re the one who’s hurt me!” Claire screamed at him, her cheek shiny with tears. “You’re the one who’s hurt me like I’ve never been hurt before. Bullets, knives, exploding men and speeding cars can’t hurt me the way you have. It’s in here,” She folded her hands in front of her chest like a prayer. “Where I can’t just heal and sorry doesn’t make everything alright.”

            “Claire…..” He began, reaching out to touch her arm.

            She jerked away from his touch violently. “It’s not alright anymore, Noah.” The word was like a slap to the face. She shook her head, unknowingly looking exactly the way Peter had pictured her in his reoccurring nightmare of becoming the exploding man. “The things you’ve done, claiming it was for my protection……no. I don’t want any part of it. Or you.”

            Noah Bennett felt…..powerless for the first time in his life as he watched his daughter pick up her already-packed duffle bag and walk out on her family.

On him.

            He couldn’t hurt her anymore.