[ A blink, a glance up and down, microgestures that suggest concession. Yes, of course, Alex is all grown up, and Charles has seen the scars of the recent past. The lessons that have made their marks, and now he has one of his own.

Still, even now-- ]

And Senator Petrelli, hasn't he lived through this place too?

It's because he isn't a friend that I listened to him, you know. He told me how I could help, rather than focus only on how to prevent me from doing so.

[ He glances away, watches as others filter into the lockers, his voice appropriately quiet for a private conversation in a public place. When he looks back, there's the earnest, prying search in his eyes, to detect whether Alex understands. ]

You couldn't possibly have known exactly how we'd fail.