Not Backing Down
A PJO and Jack Reacher Crossover
Heroes don't have to be braver than anyone else
They are just braver for a few seconds longer.
Chapter 1: Meet Jack Reacher
The bus was nearly silent as it cruised slowly along the highway. The only noise came from a young boy's iPod that was turned on far too loud to be safe with headphones plugged in, the steady revving of the engine, and one rather large Asian man's snoring, which filled the whole bus. Sat next to the Asian was a giant of a man, well muscled, with a face that attracts a lot of female attention, not that he minds. He has seen and committed more violent and heroic acts than everybody else on this bus combined. He doesn't want to make the world a better place, but he does want to get rid of those who make it worse. His name is Jack Reacher.
Reacher is getting bored, which is hard for him as he usually makes tricky arithmetic problems in his head for long journeys like this. But he is running out of problems, and the man sitting next to him is getting on his nerves. One thing Reacher hates is loud snoring, and he's glad he doesn't do it in his sleep, as hypocrisy is another pet hate of his. Thankfully the man has been awake for most of the journey; otherwise his monotonous snoring might have drilled itself into Reacher's brain and scarred him for the rest of his life.
Finally, just as Reacher thinks he can't take much more, the man wakes up. Reacher inwardly sighs with relief. Insanity is destined for another day, it seems. The man pulls out his mobile phone to make a call. Reacher guesses it's about business, as he is wearing a smart suit, slightly damp on the left side of his collar due to him drooling in his sleep. His guess is proven right, as he obviously is addressing his boss, who is angry that he is late.
The bus finally pulls off the highway, which meant they were nearing their destination. That's good, as Reacher needs a new set of clothes; the ones he's wearing are getting dirty. Reacher does not do washing or laundry, instead choosing to embody the throwaway culture of America by simply buying a new set of clothes when his old ones are no good. He then donates the old set to charities. It's a method that works well for him. And for giant Africans.
The bus pulls up around half an hour later, and Reacher is one of the first to disembark. He quickly finds the nearest men's clothes store, entering without a second thought. He browses through the store, inspecting the clothes that will fit him with a keen eye. He chooses a pair of loose jeans, a red and white chequered shirt and a light brown leather jacket. The woman who serves him gives him that look that many give him, the sort of silent way of saying; I'm free tonight if you are. So Reacher does what he always does in these situations. He simply ignores the look, thanks the woman and walks to the nearest motel.
He quickly checks in, and gets out his foldable toothbrush and wallet, his only possessions, and places them on the bed. He uses a disposable razor that was provided with the room to shave, and changes into his new clothes. By this time it's around 6:30PM, so Reacher decides to get something to eat. He leaves his room, picking up his wallet and toothbrush and placing them in his pocket. He once again steps into the crisp autumn chill.
As he walks down the street, Reacher notices he's being followed. Around three metres behind him are two males, hoods covering their faces. To prove his theory, he turns down a narrow alley. As he suspected, they turn down the alley as well. He can hear one of them, taller than the other murmuring under his breath.
"He's slightly gigantic Nico."
"He is really tall."
"That's what I just said, idiot. No wonder you spend so much time around dead people."
"Shut up Jason, we're just asking him." The shorter one then approaches him. "Uh, sir. Are you Jack Reacher?" He asks him. The man is actually a boy, much to his surprise. He has greasy black hair and looks like an average twelve or thirteen year-old, apart from his eyes. They have a certain haunted look to them, like the boy has seen too much for someone so young.
"No, sorry you must be mistaken. I'm Jimmie Reece."
"Well, I don't think you are." He doesn't even appear slightly thrown by what Reacher just said.
"How can you prove I'm not?"
"Well, Jimmie Reece played second base for the Yankees in 1930. He died in 1994. I know, I met him." Normally, this wouldn't happen, it would be the inquirer who was thrown when Reacher gave another name (he always goes for Yankees second basemen. Don't ask why.), this time it's Reacher that's thrown. He doesn't have another way of dealing with this. But, he does tower above the boy, and the other one, Jason, despite being tall is still shorter than Reacher. He knows he can take them both if push comes to shove. He smiles and raises his hands.
"Well, you've caught me, so what do you want?"
"Help."
"What with? School bullies? Not getting pocket money?" Reacher jokes. The boy's face is still as stone cold as ever.
"Come with me and I'll explain."
"Sorry, not going anywhere" Reacher was getting frustrated with the boy now.
"Sorry Mr Reacher, but that's not an option." The boy said firmly, pulling a bronze dagger out of his jacket. Why does it have to be a knife, Reacher thought. Why not a gun, or a rock? Reacher hates dealing with knife-armed opponents. He feels he has no talent for it whatsoever. It's the only aspect of hand to hand combat he feels that way about.
"Okay kid, put the knife down, and no one has to get hurt." He says slowly, trying to calm the boy down.
"Then come with me, and no one has to get hurt anyway." Reacher was getting nervous, playing various ways the confrontation could go in his mind. The taller one, who has said nothing so far, speaks up.
"Reacher, I really don't want anyone to get hurt, so please, come with us. We don't want to hurt you." The taller one is, much to Reacher's surprise, also a boy, with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, much like Reacher. They could have been father and son, it was so alike.
"Look, you both should be in school right now, not trying to kidnap someone, so calm down, and walk away." It is then that the smaller boy lunges at Reacher.
He is trying to club him on the head with the pommel of the dagger, and Reacher sidesteps the attack. He uses his right hand to grab the hand holding the knife, pulling it down. He then punches the boy in the face with his left twice, before striking the back of his knee, forcing him to kneel before delivering one last punch to knock him to the floor. He feels bad about hurting a boy, but it had to be done. He then feels a flash of pain at the back of his head, and everything goes black.
Jason sheaths his Imperial Gold gladius, after hitting Reacher over the head with the pommel, so he is knocked out. He then turns over to Nico, offering his hand to help him up.
"You alright there?" He asks. Nico looks furious, ignoring Jason's hand and getting up. There is a trickle of blood coming down the corner of his mouth from where Reacher hit him. He expected him to be strong, but that felt like a sledgehammer.
"Fine," He then looks at Reacher's limp body. "Holy Hades Jason, how hard did you hit him?" He asks incredulously. Jason shrugs an answer. Nico then pulls out a mobile phone out, and slides it into Reacher's inside pocket.
"You sure this is safe? For him, I mean?" Jason asks, sounding unsure. He still didn't fully trust Nico after it had been revealed he knew about both camps all along.
"Yes, perfectly fine. Monsters will ignore him as he is a mortal, but he's one of the only one's on Earth who can see through the Mist. With his skills and training, they'll be fine. We'll see Mr Reacher next at the Doors of Death." He answers, before pulling out a Celestial Bronze sword and a Glock 17 handgun out as well, the Glock being strapped onto Reacher by a holster, and the sword by its scabbard. Jason didn't ask where Nico got the gun, probably from the Stoll brothers. It was loaded with celestial bronze bullets, handmade by Leo in Bunker 9.
Jason looks at Reacher's unconscious face. He is about to be placed into the most dangerous place there was. It was unfair to ask this of him, but they needed someone to save them. Demigods never rely on mortals, not ever. But they are now. Jack Reacher is now the worlds only hope. Rachel said so in that weird way she says prophecies. Ella as well, at the same time.
The Door's of Death two foes meet,
One of them, to death he has been beat.
Now is the time of the master plan,
The giant of man's final stand.
Authors Note: This one is for FanFiction ImagiNations crossover challenge. It's also the very first Reacher fanfic on here. I hope you all like the opening chapter, and please follow or favourite, as things are quite literally going to heat up in the next chapter. Please review and I hope you enjoyed this opening to Jack Reacher's most dangerous adventure ever. Please go onto the forum if you haven't already, and join in with one of the challenges, as we need more! Bradykins out.