Who wouldn't have cracked after seeing what Piper McLean had seen? Doing what she had done?

Piper was curled in her bed, shaking, eyes distant. Memories flitted across her vision. Jason was jumping over the railing on the Grand Canyon's walkway. Leo was desperately trying to control a plummeting Festus. Jason was backing away while his friend pretended to be Dionysus. Percy and Annabeth were falling into Tartarus. Piper's dad was laying, dazed, in Piper's arms as she told him about her adventures as a demigod. Drew was insulting her, calling her Dumpster Queen. Percy and Annabeth were falling into Tartarus. Jason and Percy were wheeling towards each other on their horses, swords raised. The Romans were surrounding Piper and Jason had been struck with a brick. Leo waved off Piper's question about the weird pen tattoos and the TEAM LEO tee-shirt. Percy and Annabeth were falling into Tartarus. Percy and Annabeth were falling into Tartarus. Percy and Annabeth were falling...Percy and Annabeth...

"NOOO!" Piper cried out, eyes shut tight. The visions still came, even with her screaming, kicking, and crying. Jason ran into her room, expecting danger. He didn't expect what he found. Piper was rolling on the floor, laughing. LAUGHING.
"Pipes, what-?" Jason took a step forward and Piper froze. She turned toward him with an odd glint in her eyes. She whipped out Katropis and held it in a shaky hand. She jabbed at the air and yelled at the top of her lungs.

Nico sprinted into the room, sword drawn. At the sight of the son of Hades, Piper's scream broke off as if she was stunned into silence. Nico crossed over to her, and she stared up at him with wide kaleidoscope eyes. She smiled, dropped her blade, and pulled Nico into a hug, sword and all.

Nico looked surprised, but happy, which was something Jason had never seen Nico like. Jason felt like a third wheel, just staring blankly at the two.

Piper let out a sudden shaky breath. Her eyes became wider still as she took in the situation she was in. "Nico," she swallowed. "Why did you save the skeleton dog? The dog is already dead. Why couldn't you just let him drown?"

Jason had no idea what the Cherokee girl was talking about, but Nico's eyes dawned with realization. He pried Piper's fingers off of his arm and twisted his skull ring nervously.

"The ghosts are dancing, Nico. Can't you see them?" Piper gestured at the open bit of floor. Two people melted into existence, and mist curled around the couple. They laughed and spun, dancing to some fast paced music. The blonde giggled as she twirled.

Jason couldn't believe his eyes. Annabeth and Percy...no. They couldn't be dead.

The ghosts bowed with happy grins on their faces. Annabeth flipped a coin and it became tangible as soon as it left her hand. It landed at Nico's feet, heads up. Inscribed on the silver drachma were three letters. Alpha, theta, epsilon. Nico bent down and picked up the Athenian coin, holding it reverently in his hand. Percy took a very familiar pen out from his pocket and tossed it to Jason, who caught it out of reflex.

"We won't need these anymore. Good luck." Percy waved and disappeared, with Annabeth close behind.

Piper blinked furiously and looked over at Jason. She squinted, and a pained expression came over her face. "Do I know you?"

Jason clutched the pen tightly. "Of course you do, Piper. It's me, Jason Grace. Remember our quests together? The huge bronze dragon? Quebec, Chicago, Detroit?"

Jason was clearly panicking. His words came out as a jumbled mass of syllables and letters. Piper raised an eyebrow. "I went on a quest to free Hera with Leo Valdez and," she flashed a smile at Nico. "Nico DiAngelo. Are you trying to impersonate NIco? You're not doing a very good job."

"Piper..." Jason turned away and walked stiffly through the door. Piper turned towards Nico.

"Do you know that guy?"

"He's," Nico's voice cracked. "He's a friend."