I had an idea for a part two.
Jason stood on the battlefield, surrounded by monsters. His friends were beside him, but he knew they were hopelessly outnumbered. Gaia's voice spoke in his head, "Jason, you cannot save your friends. You are weak. You will help me wake. Your friends will abandon you when they find out how weak you are."
Jason didn't want to believe it, but he couldn't help it. He did feel weak. He felt sweaty and shaky and not at all up to fighting. And he became aware of another pressing need. Gods, he needed to pee. Why now, in the middle of a battle? Why?
He had to protect his friends. He hefted his Imperial gold sword and charged forward toward the nearest monster. He stabbed it in the chest, killing it, but the movement caused his bladder to leak a bit. He killed a few more monsters. He really couldn't hold it anymore! A minute later, his bladder had had enough and released itself completely. The monster he was fighting noticed. It started to make a jeering remark but became silent as Jason cut its head off. He kept fighting.
When they got back to the ship, Jason had a huge wet stain on his pants. All he wanted was to get back to his room and change before anyone noticed.
But no such luck. Piper had seen. She blocked his way. "You peed your pants!" she said. "You're pathetic. Such a weak baby." I can't believe I was ever attracted to you."
She walked away. Jason just stood there in shock. Had she just broken up with him? And everyone had witnessed it. No one had any words of sympathy. Jason began to cry, which just made him feel more ashamed. He was 16! He was a warrior! He wasn't supposed to cry, and he definitely wasn't supposed to wet his pants!
Gaia's voice said, "see, I told you they would abandon you."
Percy, who had recovered nicely from his illness of a few weeks ago, walked into Jason's bedroom. Jason had the flu. Piper had been with him for much of the day, but had gone to eat, take a shower, and take her turn on watch. She had figured it would be okay. Jason had seemed to be resting comfortably. But Percy had felt the need to check on him. It was the least he could do, after Jason had taken care of him and comforted him when he had been sick. And Jason hadn't told anyone about Percy's embarrassing situation.
Jason was moving restlessly on the bed. He was having a nightmare. Percy walked over to him. His face was soaked in sweat. So were his sheets. Gods, he couldn't have sweated that much could he? Had his fever gone up? Percy laid a hand on Jason's shoulder. "Jason, buddy", he said, "you're having a nightmare. You need to wake up."
Jason woke with a start. He was in his bed. Percy was standing beside him. "You were having a nightmare," Percy said. "I thought I should wake you up."
It had been a nightmare! It hadn't been real! But his sheets felt wet. His pajamas and underwear too. Sweat? But it was too wet to all be sweat. Oh, gods. He hadn't seriously, at 16 years old, peed the bed, had he? He felt his face start to get red and couldn't meet Percy's eyes. Maybe Percy wouldn't notice. Maybe he would just leave.
No such luck. "Are you alright, Jason?" asked Percy. "Are you feeling worse? Do you need anything?"
Jason supposed he had better just admit it. "Um, Percy?... I um- I may have-" he trailed off, unable to say it.
"May have what?" asked Percy.
I-um- I- I kind of- I wet the bed," said Jason in a small voice, face growing even redder. "Go ahead and laugh. I'm pathetic."
Percy gave him a sympathetic look. "You're not pathetic. You're sick and you were having a nightmare. And I am the last person who should call you pathetic. Remember two weeks ago? I peed my pants when I was awake, and right outside the bathroom! Now stand up. Change your clothes and I'll go wash your sheets. They needed to be washed anyway, with the way you've been sweating. No one will question it. And I won't tell anyone about this incident. Then you can tell me about your nightmare if you want."
"Nah, it was silly, now that I'm awake," said Jason. Gaia was wrong. His friends would never abandon him, no matter what.
