Las Vegas, Late Friday Evening

[izzyalienqueen]

Despite two finals that morning and an afternoon and evening spent keeping five different Christmas parties running smoothly, Isabel was still pretty awake when she finally made it back to her apartment.

Deciding to take advantage of some quiet time, she started going through some of the papers and envelopes that had accumulated on her desk. The envelope from the photo lab made her pause. She'd ordered the pictures shortly before Peter had died and knowing that he was in several of the carnival and Homecoming shots, had put the envelope aside when it arrived after the explosion.

Climbing into bed, she opened the envelope and slowly went through the pictures, smiling at the memories and wishing somehow she'd been able to save him.

The long day finally caught up with her, and Isabel fell asleep, a picture of Peter still in her hand.

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's just a dream," she assured him. "It's okay. I promise. No danger here."

[repeterpetrelli.livejournal.com]

"I'm not safe!" Peter shouted, like the volume of the words could push Isabel away. Then, softer, and barely managing to keep himself composed he added, "I killed Nathan."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Her subconscious was surprisingly good at projecting Peter guilt, because Isabel could truly picture Peter blaming himself for Nathan's death.

"I know." He couldn't push Isabel away, if anything his obvious despair drew her nearer. "I'm sorry." For so many things.

[repeterpetrelli.livejournal.com]

"I couldn't stop it." Peter's voice sounded as broken as he looked. "He was saving me and I killed him."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"He was saving you. Saving the city," Isabel told him, reaching for Peter's hand. "He was brave. A lot braver and stronger then I was. And I'll always remember him for that."

[repeterpetrelli.livejournal.com]

Peter wanted that comfort more than anything. Even if it was only a dream, the thought of someone he knew and cared about being there for him to hold and not feel so alone - even as a danger Peter had to try it.

But it didn't work. Because as soon as he reached out for Isabel's hand, both she and the hospital faded around him. Peter woke up, back in his cell within the bowels of the Company, and once again felt completely alone.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Still half asleep, Isabel sat up, her hand still reaching out for Peter's. She shook her head, then focused on the picture still in her hand.

"No it's not possible."

It wasn't possible. She'd seen the explosion. No one could have survived that.
But she had to be sure.

Isabel stretched back out on the bed, the picture still in her hands. But for once, she didn't dream.

[blessed_twice]

"What's not possible?" Wyatt said sleepily.

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

So much for not waking Wyatt up. "That Peter could possibly be alive," Isabel said, setting aside the picture with a sigh. "I had a dream. For a moment I thought I'd actually dreamwalked him."

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt snuggled up to her. "Insert jealous comment about you dreaming about another guy here," he said. He kissed her shoulder and added, "You okay?"

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She did a little snuggling of her own. "I'm okay. It was just weird. Different from any of the other dreams I've had. Maybe my subconscious is trying to give me closure."

In which case Isabel was going to give it a talking too. Seeing Peter so unhappy was not helping her feel better.

[blessed_twice]

"You were thinking about him a lot tonight," Wyatt pointed out. "That's bound to trigger dreams."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"And I'm stressed with work and finals," Isabel agreed. "It's like a recipe for bad dreams. I need to think about happy things. Like going for the tree tomorrow?" Yes, that was Isabel making a conscious effort to change the subject and put on her happy face.

[blessed_twice]

"I still have a ton of shopping to do," Wyatt groaned. By ton, he meant, "all."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"If you hit the internet hard tomorrow you'll just make the shipping deadline for standard shipping," she told him, shaking her head. "Wait another day or two and you'll have to pay for expedited shipping. Or even worse? You'll have to go to the mall."