Okay no I don't own any of these characters, birthday info etc. It's all Rick Riordan. I made up Jackson Farley and the birthdays and stuff so sorry it if your name is Jackson Farley...shout out to you! I guess...

"The Doctor" and "The TARDIS" are trademarks of BBC and I do not own those either.

Please don't steal my story! Thanks

Nico-

4:43 pm. I packed my bag as we headed away from physical therapy. The car was big enough for me to keep a backpack and for Percy to bring his. "So?" I looked at Percy, "Where do we start?"

Percy kept his eyes on the road and shrugged, "Maybe the police? Look for any other shootings in this area?"

I nodded. It was a pretty good start considering that I saw nothing but blood that night. I shook the thoughts out of my head and leaned back, watching the lines on the road pass by, One, two, three, four...

We got to the police station and asked for the list of recent shootings in this area. The policeman hesitated at first but led us to the file room. I looked through the papers carefully, "Am I even in this?"

Percy tapped my covered shoulder, "Found it." It wasn't my picture but it was a police file about me.

"Nico Di Angelo found with gun wounds to the shoulder.

Age:16

Sex:Male

Birthday: 5-24-1998

Gunman: Unknown"

I smirked, "Idiots." Percy looked at me, confused, "That's not my birthday. I was born in 1924." Percy looked at me intently, "The Lotus?"

I nodded, "But the date is right. May 24th." I picked up the paper after that and it read,

"Jackson Farley found with gun wounds to the head and chest.

Age:17

Sex:Male

Birthday: 3-12-1997

Gunman: Unknown"

I looked at Percy and he looked at me, "This is the same guy, no?" Percy just shrugged and closed the folder, putting it back into the cold, metal drawer.

On the car ride back home, I thought about the files, "Where was the other shooting?" I asked, tapping my foot against the seat.

Percy thought about it, "I think the other boy was shot a couple miles from here. Why?"

I shrugged, "Maybe it's someone in the area?" I looked out the window, watching the house get closer as we pulled into the garage. It's pretty late, considering the fact that Physical therapy was 2 hours.

We sat in the den and watched the tv, holding hands. Percy ordered pizza and I made smoothies, not sure about the mix but Percy thought of it. I handed him his blueberry smoothie and drank my strawberry one. We sat in the dim light, watching The Doctor fly away from Earth in the TARDIS, heading to another uncharted world with aliens to defeat.

Percy fell asleep on the couch when the show ended and I cleaned up, putting the leftover pizza in the fridge, washing the dishes, etc.

A hand clamped over my mouth. Not again.

I felt something sharp press against the underside of my jaw and I tried to turn, to see the intruder's face. My hands were held behind my back now, two people then. Two.

I felt a cold, ragged breath on my ear and I shut my eyes, shivering, "So," I heard a gruff voice whisper, "Heard some crazy shit about you two. Tryin' to get us turned in is what I heard." My neck tensed up and the knife dug into my jaw, slicing a gash to my earlobe. I winced and felt tears prick in my shut eyes. The voice got closer to my ear, "That ain't gonna work, you see. Because, if you do continue with your little bru-ha-ha, We'll just have to kill pretty boy."

I stopped and tears began to spill. My eyes opened and a man with a mask held a gun to Percy's innocent head, cocking the weapon. Three.

I heard a laugh, "I knew that'd set you off. Anyways, I'll need y'all to stop lookin' for us. Just go back to your normal lives, go to school, get a job. We'll always be here, making sure you held up your end of the bargain." The voice paused, "But, if you don't, Pretty Boy's gonna get it. We're gonna kill him. Slow. Torturous. Making you watch every second of it. Understand?"

I nodded slowly, tears still spilling from my now open eyes. The man with the mask walked behind me and I heard the window latch open. The knife was still pressed against my throat and it intentionally cut down towards my chin, making me let out a small whimper. I heard the voice laugh a deep, throaty laugh and I was released, neck, hands, mouth. Turning quickly, all I saw was a gloved hand leave the windowsill.

Blood was pouring from the gash and I looked at Percy, still sleeping like an oblivious lamb. The pain got to me once the knife was yanked out of my neck and I could feel it now. Burning, seeping through my veins. Making it's way to my heart, my brain, my fingers and toes. Managed to reach the mirror and saw that the gash traced from the underside of my chin, to my earlobe. Blood drip-dripped onto my black shirt, leaving blood trailing all down the left side of my neck. The salty tears made it sting as I cleaned it, wrapping some extra gauze around my neck.

I walked back into the den, wrapped myself in Percy and his half-asleep body shifted to make room for mine, his arm wrapping around my shoulder. Our torsos pressed together and I could feel his breath on my nose, long and relaxed. Mine, on the other hand, were quick and ragged, matching my heartbeat. Matching the throb of my neck. I put my hand on Percy's shoulder blades and we fell asleep in that sort of hug.

Percy-

8:30 am. Nico had gauze wrapped all of the way around his neck, but every time I asked, He seemed to dodge the question. I finally gave up and we stood in the kitchen, making pancakes. "Sleep well?" I asked, flipping the breakfast. After that first day with Nico here, that line has become a bit of a tradition.

He didn't look at me, didn't even smile, "Fine." Nico's answer was quick and sharp.

I looked up at him, "Nico? Are you okay? You seem tense." I asked, putting my hand on his shoulder, the gauze had been taken off to reveal a newly healed scar.

He shook my hand off and refused eye contact, "Perfect. Fit as a fiddle." He was a bad liar.

"Nico," I started, putting my finger on the uncovered part of his chin, making him look me in the eyes, "Say that again?"

He looked at me, his face getting hot. Nico pushed my hand away and shook his head, a tear fizzling in the bottom of the hot pan. "I'm not, Okay? Happy?"

"I-I'm sorry, Nico...Can you tell me why? You trust me. I hope..."

"Of course, Percy. You're the only person in this world that I trust..." His voice trailed off, "I-I just...I can't tell you." He put the pancake onto a plate, walking to the island.

"Why ca-"

"Because, Percy. If you love me, you'll let it go."

At that, I dropped it. Instead, I brought up something that Nico seemed to be interested in yesterday, "So...I found that kid's family on the internet. Maybe...Maybe they have information that'll help us find these guys. How 'bout it?"

Nico shook his head, "Maybe we should...I mean...I think it's time to just give up. The search I mean." He winced as he swallowed but I didn't comment, "These guys are probably just drunks that had a little too much fun with weapons. It happens and we just happened to be there at the wrong time."
Why had his opinion changed so much? "Um...But They shot you. In the shoulder. You were dead for about half-an-hour and now you say you don't want these guys to be arrested? Gods, Nico. What happened?"

He looked at me, his grey gaze intense, "Nothing happened. We should just stop."

Something was up. I didn't know what it was but something happened when I wasn't around. Was Nico black-mailed? Was he supposed to pay a drug dealer or something? This wasn't just an accident. This was planned. This was attempted murder and I was going to figure out why Nico was lying.

1:30 am. Nico was still asleep and I tip-toed out of his room, locking the front door on my way out. I was going to find out what Nico was up to. I made my way to the KwikMart to get some food and to use the bright, artificial lights. I looked over the police files-I may have "borrowed" some-and tried to find a connection. I shook my head in defeat, threw the wrappers of my protein bars away, and made my way back to the house in the early morning.

My hands flew behind my and a rope wrapped around my wrists, securing me to a tall, willow tree. A knife, like an oyster shucker, pressed against my neck and I realized, Nico's gauze. A gauze was wrapped around my mouth and I saw two dark figures. They both wore black masks so they were unidentifiable in the dark. There were no light poles around here so you had to just hope for the best when you drove at night. One of the men circled the tree, "You know, I had a small chat with your friend. He tried to keep you away from solving this case but you, my friend, are a persistent little bitch." He chuckled behind me and walked back into my field of vision, "We told him that if you kept going with this case, we would kill you. Wow, that made him go. Crying and crying, obviously trying to protect you. He would've done the polka if I said that would save your life. Gods that was fun."

He stepped closer, the other figure carried a kettle, and one of those portable stoves. He set it on the ground and put down the kettle. These guys are stupid, I thought to myself, pulling against the bondage.

The man, probably the leader, laughed and nodded to the man next to me, causing the knife to pass through my stubbly neck. I wouldn't let them see my pain. I wouldn't let them win. The leader crossed his arms, "Look. We're gonna make this simple. You'll stay tied there and you have until this kettle screams to tell us where the little brat is."

I looked at him harshly and shook my head, pulling until my wrists hurt. I swore I would protect Nico. That's what I'm going to do. 'Till the day that I die.

"Now, don't be stubborn. Looks like you only have about 10 seconds left. Make the smart decision."

I shook my head once again the the scream of the kettle pierced the night air. My ears hurt and the knife cut even deeper into my neck, carving downward.

The leader's helper handed him the kettle and he smiled, "Well, this water is boiling and you have a knife in your neck. Imagine what'd happen if I just poured this all over you, feeling satisfied with every hint of sadness that came from your eyes. Relishing in the struggle that you'd show. What if I got the brat to watch? Oh that would be fun." He looked at his helper and gestured towards the house.

No. No no no no no no. Not Nico. Not now. Gods what have I done?

The house's door clicked with a fake key and slammed against the interior's wall. I was helpless, tied to a tree, minutes away from death, and Nico had to watch. Nico can't watch. That would scar me even more. I can't watch him suffering. I have to get out of here, somehow.

The leader placed the kettle back on the hot stove and stood, watching silent tears roll down my face. This probably brought him pleasure. Torturing people, I mean. He was probably a psychopath that had escaped the asylum in the next town over.

I saw the figure come back, dragging a body beside him. Nico. Tears began flowing down my cheeks as I tried to get free. I just wanted to go back to how it was, Nico and me curved together perfectly. I closed my eyes and pictured just the two of us, happy life. No guns, no knives, no willow trees and suspicious men.

I heard Nico's gasp and opened my eyes, I looked at him, calling for help in my eyes. The leader laughed and grabbed the kettle, "Look brat, here's the memo. I'm going to pour this boiling water all over Pretty Boy here, and you're going to watch. Caught up?"

Nico looked at me, "B-but...I kept my side of the deal. You said you wouldn't hurt him! You liar!" I looked at Nico. That's what happened. He was black-mailed. Set up.

I tried frantically to get out of the ropes but my wrists were tired, my arms were tired, my body was tired. My brain was running at 1000 miles per hour. Processing information with a snap. So many things were happening right then and I couldn't deal.

The man laughed at my efforts and looked at Nico, "That explains why Pretty Boy has police reports with him while he snuck out at, oh 3 am."

Nico looked at me, betrayal dancing across his moonlit face, "Percy? I-is this true?"

I looked at him and leaned my head against the tree, giving up.

"I can't believe you."

The man held the kettle closer to my head, "Ah, betrayal. My favorite. But, now it won't hurt him as much..."

The knife man got the memo and cut down my torso, slicing my shirt. I screamed in pain but through the gag, it only came out as muffled cries. The man poured a couple drops, singing my head. I winced and the pain caused new tears to spill over and cascade down my face.

The leader's face was now lit and Nico gasped, "Lucas? It was you?" He meant it as more of a rhetorical question, "Of course it was. I didn't even recognize your voice. What...Why?"

Lucas smiled and poured more water on me, boiled water seeping into my wound. This hurt like hell. No, worse. I bit the gag and fought the idea of death.

"Because brat, you know how much I've gained from Mom." The rest of the water came down as a waterfall, burning my face and back. Shit.

I backed against the tree, falling to my knees, hands sliding down the trunk. The knife cut farther, at my stomach now. How am I not dead? The water was helping. It hurt but it was helping, slowing the bleeding process. The cuts were too protrusive to heal fully but it helped.

Nico whined and fell to the ground, trying to get away from Lucas's helper monkey. Lucas just laughed and laughed, tossing the kettle to the ground.

"You sick bastard." Nico spat, kicking the man in the groin. His hands were freed but, rather than hurting Lucas, he ran towards me. He elbowed the knife man in the nose but left the knife in, reducing the already bad pain. His lips met mine as his hands untied the rope. My wrists were chafed and Nico never left my lips, His hand held my jaw, avoiding the incision, and the other ran through my hair. My hands pulled his torso against mine, tracing his shoulder blades.

"Okay, okay. Break it up lovebirds." Lucas pointed a gun at Nico, the knife man pointed a gun at me. Our hands were intertwined now, our gaze unbreakable.

Two shots fired.

Nico-

It's weird. What things Percy and I can get ourselves into. Lucas and the Knife-man were shot by the other one. The funny thing is, all of those guys, were my brothers. Lucas moved to America about 8 years before I was born, Knife-man (Henry) came with Lucas. The one who shot them both, well...That was my closest brother. He was actually still in the UK until I found out this terrible way. Andrew, helper boy, went to prison.

Percy and I attended online classes, now juniors in high school. All of our scars healed and they were reminders of the day that we didn't give up, no matter how much we wanted to. Percy and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary last week and it was beautiful, retracing the steps of our first date.

This started out as a search for murderers, a search to aid justice. However, it ended up being the search for ourselves. Where we really belonged.

Percy and I got a dog, her name is Mrs. O'Leary. She's a Newfoundland. She snuggles with us on the couch and helps us clean up spills on the kitchen floor. This is the family that I imagined myself having. Percy made it possible and I made sure that we both did one thing.

We protected each other.

THE END