Disclaimer: So, you know this fanfiction though it's a little to away of the original story. Anyway, it is still FANFICTION.
Author's notes: 10/5/15 - It's a nice Fall day to update. It's bright early Monday morning, birds are chirping and I am still sleeping. I don't expect lots of views, reviews, likes and followers. It would be awesome, don't get me wrong... but this part is about me ending the story and growing as a writer rather than what people want or expect. I am writing what I want to write... still any idea is welcomed. I want to thank my two favorite penpal gals: Charlee and Nik for supporting me and accepting my awful awful grammar mistakes. Lots of XOXO from Mexico.
2. Stuck
It took a couple of seconds for Theo to adjust to the sight of the shadows and illuminated furniture by the roaring fire of the open stove. He knew this place by his parents' vivid bedtime stories: the Damasen's home in the Swamp. Everything was built for a bigger person. Even if Jason had done his best to shrink the furniture with pillows and robes over the bed, shorter table legs, and steps, they probably looked tiny.
Jason Grace pointed to the corner of the place where a large armchair was close to the roaring fire. It looked like a comfy place to read. Lana was lying with her legs swinging on the edge of the arm support as her head was on the other side. She looked peaceful sleeping. Her lips were rosy tinted and her skin just a tint paler than usual.
Theo jumped out of the bed in a long fall to the ground which hurt just a little. He didn't care and crossed the room to her side. Lana was breathing and looked fine despise the chunky bloody wraps around her torso. He took her hand kissing it lingering for the longest time.
Theo wanted to yell at Jason for having Lana in the armchair while he was in the bed, but he felt so warm by the fire that it made sense. Lana needed warmth and this was the only place as Theo remembered how cold he felt on the bed.
Theo saw by the corner of his eye to Jason next to him looking at them. He was dazzled and tried his best not to stare at him. He wondered a lot of things about the legend in front of him. Since he was little, he had heard stories about him. How Hazel, Frank, Piper, his parents and the rest of New Rome talked about him. Theo always pictured him greater than Perseus, Heracles and other heroes. He was Jason Grace, a real hero.
It took Theo the longest time to finally ask "How is she?"
Jason sighed and that was never a good sign in Theo's book. Jason said gently "Her physical wounds are extremely… delicate. I am amazed how she had managed to stay alive"
Theo suffocated a sob but he kept staring at her. Lana had endured a lot. Theo said with a sad hopeful smile "That's her, so stubborn… Why hasn't she woken up?"
"Orpheus' trial" answered Jason and Theo looked at him confused.
"What's that?" he asked.
"You passed by Orpheus' door… In the ancient and modern times, it was a relative easy way to get here, just a little of music did the trick. Your dad did years ago, so Hades got a little annoyed and changed the location, the destination and added a trial, with Morpheus' help, to prove the courage and wiliness of those coming here. She is stuck in a dream so deep that she doesn't know what's real or not. Inside the dream, someone you know and love keeps you in. You woke up… she hasn't yet" said Jason and all Theo could think it was Mer the one who was his jailor. Theo would have stayed just for his sister, his twin.
Theo sighed feeling the heaviness of his words, what it meant. He looked around and saw things that their parents' never mentioned, some looked from 'upstairs'. He came into a sad conclusion as he asked to Jason "We are not the first ones to get this way, right?"
Jason gave him a quick nod and answered "Maybe 10 since I'm here"
This alarmed Theo because Jason was alone so he had to ask "What happened to them? Where are they?"
Jason hesitated. Theo stared at him silently pleading for the truth and Jason said "Most never woke up and eventually died. Their bodies simply gave up in this toxic environment. Only 2 opened their eyes, including you"
"What happened to the other?" asked Theo hoping for good news.
Jason sighed again before saying "Graham thought he could make it alone and I never saw him again… Sometime later, I saw a monster wearing his t-shirt. I guess he never made it out"
"Have you tried?" asked Theo wondering one single thing: Why was Jason still here?
Jason looked to the roaring fire hesitating his answer like he was afraid of saying loudly. Then he looked at the stormy sea green eyes of Theo and said with crimson cheeks "It's suicidal alone… It sounds cowardly, I know… so I am stuck here"
"So am I" said Theo bitterly.
Jason chuckled as he suddenly felt braver. His hand reached Theo's shoulder and he said "Let's see about that…" His eyes moved to Lana and Theo saw fear in his eyes "Later when the girl wakes up"
Theo knew Jason lied to make him feel better. He didn't want to think of the moment they realized Lana wasn't going to wake up, so he needed to distract himself. He found himself asking to Jason "How did you end up here?"
"No idea" said Jason shrugging. It looked like it wasn't the first time someone has asked him the same. Theo thought of the other demigod who woke up: Graham.
"But you died" asked Theo thinking of what he knew and Leo. Leo came back from the Fields.
Jason shrugged again and answered "I know I did. I remember Piper crying and I told her that I loved her and it was okay… I woke up a couple of yards of this cabin. I was lucky, I guess. I was badly wounded and the medicine cabinet was stocked. There is a well nearby that reaches the Phlegethon river… Since then, I have been here."
Theo stared at Jason. A million of questions ran through his head but one was constant. He asked "Did you try to send a message to Camp… like my parents did?"
Jason smiled crookedly and said "Countless of times for so many years… but if nobody knows I'm here, who will wait by the fire to get it? Who will believe it's not a prank or a tramp? I'm supposed to be dead"
Theo looked at Lana now. He didn't know what else to ask really. He didn't want to know right now how many times he asked for help and nobody came, nobody listened. He didn't even want to think about Jason and all these years in Tartarus, alive and trapped. Theo didn't want to believe that it was his future now. He knew he would try to find a way out just like Jason did, probably to die like Graham did. The more he stared at Lana, the more he was convinced he had to try for her, for his family. No matter what, Lana had to wake up. Without her, Theo wouldn't have any reason to try.
It didn't take long to Theo to realize that Lana's health wasn't improving. She looked sicker by the minute and without any delay searched in the medicine cabinet. Throughout the years, Jason had used pretty much everything that once Damasen had. There were only left a couple of bandages, herbal tea for insomnia and clay for Tartarus mosquitoes bites. Lana was going to die and there was nothing he could do.
"Sorry" whispered Jason when Theo finally closed the medicine cabinet.
"This can't be all we can do. There has to be something" said Theo weakly as he fought his way not to crumble or cry in front of his idol "She is Poseidon's bloodline. We need clean water"
"There is none. I have lived out of the Phlegethon water. It only keeps you alive and… I am not a healer. I can't do much except to keep her comfortable. It's up to her to live or not now" said Jason.
Theo knew he was being honest and it didn't lessen his pain. He needed to find a solution. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got because it was Ewan's fault. He hurt Lana, the girl he claimed to care and threw her here without a mean to survival.
Theo wanted to shout until there was no air in his lungs but it wouldn't any good. They were stuck in Tartarus and Lana was in some kind of coma with a deathly wound. Even if the Phlegethon water kept her alive, there was no guarantee she would wake up.
"The fire is dying. I am going for more wood" said Jason as the room was pretty much lighted by ambers. As he left the room, Theo realized that something was glowing in Lana's neck. It was covered by her hair and looked like a vial of some kind. Theo lifted it at the same time as Jason returned.
Jason threw the firewood and approached them asking "What's that?"
Theo looked at Jason for a moment before saying "I am not sure. It's on her neck…" He looked intensely to the red fluid swirling inside the vial. Once single thought came to Theo's head 'If Ewan gave it to Lana, it was for something' and then he finally recognized it "It's Calypso's immortality."
Jason gasped surprised asking "How did she get it?"
"Morpheus… Immortality in a bottle, how convenient" said Theo quoting what Morpheus said in Devil's Golf Course "This will cure her."
Theo was about to open the vial when Jason grabbed his shoulder saying "Wait! Are you sure of using it on her? The whole thing? I mean. We could use it for us to make it out"
Theo stared at Jason greatly surprised. It was so un-heroic to not save Lana. He found himself with his mouth wide open before stammering "But, but, she is sick"
Jason looked at Theo with sadness and grief as he found himself in the same situation that before. He said honestly "We don't know if she is going to wake up. What if she doesn't?"
Theo answered quickly without a drop of hesitation "She will"
Jason sighed as he was trying to gain control of the situation. He grabbed Theo's shoulders making the young man look at him as he said "Theo, listen to me. I have been in this situation before. I don't want to crush your hopes, but…"
"She will wake up" interrupted Theo already thinking how Jason could even suggest this. For seconds, neither of them said a word as they just stared at each other.
"Okay" said Jason finally and let go of Theo's shoulders "We will use it to cure her wounds when she wakes up. We need her healthy and ready to travel, right?"
"Right" said Theo hopefully.
For the next ten minutes, nobody said a thing as Theo was holding Lana's hand and Jason reignited the fire.
Suddenly, Jason's voice was the only sound in the room as he asked "Tell me about everybody. What are they up to?"
Theo's eyes saw Jason's face and he looked curious like he really wanted to know. He tried to smile weakly and said softly "It's kind of a long story. It's been almost 30 years since the Athens battle"
Jason smiled honestly and said "We have nothing but time"
For hours, Theo talked and talked about his whole life, his parents' lives and everybody who knew Jason once. Jason listened attentively and quietly. However, he lost his ground with shocking news like Piper's passing, asking more and more questions that Theo politely answered.
At the end of the story when Theo told Jason how Ewan stabbed Lana and he jumped to save her, Jason looked at Lana and asked "How far along is she?"
Theo found the question really bizarre and answered dumbly "Excuse me?"
Jason said "The pregnancy"
"What?" said Theo alarmed, mostly surprised "Why are you saying that? Is she?"
Jason blushed a little bashful as he said honestly "As you see, she doesn't talk in her sleep… Before you woke up, she only whispered one word 'baby'… Sorry, maybe I jumped in the wrong conclusion"
Theo looked intensely at Lana and he remembered the exhibit and her nauseas, how much she was sleeping after that. She claimed it was because she was finally done with her sculpture and she needed to catch up. Theo believed her but now he was looking at her and said to himself "A baby? She never told me"
Jason tried to be cheerful and understanding as he said "Maybe she didn't know, but maybe her body knows as she is fighting to stay alive… I could be wrong. I wish I am. A pregnant demigod in Tartarus doesn't sound like good news at all"
Theo tried to nod because Jason was right. If Lana was pregnant, it was dangerous for the baby and them as she was hurt and her smell would attract the wrong crowd. Despise the terrible situation, Theo smiled. He was going to be a dad.
"Lana, a baby?" said Theo taking Lana's hand and whispered as he kissed her forehead "Why didn't you tell me before? Were you afraid of my reaction? I love you"
For the rest of the night or day, it's difficult to keep track of time in Tartarus, Theo stayed by Lana's side, holding her hand and whispering "Please, come back for me, for us, for everybody that cares for you. Please"
For days, or what it felt days, Theo stayed by her side. Jason cooked and helped Theo to change Lana's bandages. Without Jason's knowledge, Theo fed a couple of Calypso's immortality drops to Lana. Slowly, her wound was closing and color was returning to her normally pale skin. She was starting to look like Lana again.
Jason was just coming back from a little daily fight with a Maeonian Drakon when finally Lana stirred in her sleep. She grunted softly and slowly opened her eyes. Theo was looking at her with tears in his eyes and whispered "Hi"
Lana blinked as she focused her eyes on Theo. Her face turned scared and moved back as much as she could bury herself in the armchair. She pointed at Theo saying "Who are you?"
Theo didn't realize what Lana was saying as he was so happy of her waking up. He moved closer saying "Lana. You are awake. We have been so worried"
Lana put her hands between her and Theo, keeping the distance as Theo looked like he was going to hug her. She said "Get off of me. I don't know you, any of you." She pointed to Jason who was just a couple of steps behind Theo "Where am I? What is this place?"
"How are you feeling?" asked Jason politely putting his hand on Theo's shoulder gently pulling him back.
Theo didn't take the subtle hint and got closer, scaring Lana even more.
"Go away!" yelled Lana to the top of her lungs.
Theo felt hurt and rejected but his curiosity was greater than him and asked "Why didn't you tell you were pregnant?"
Lana stared at him in shock. Her mouth moved like a fish until she found her voice and said "Are you insane? I don't even know you and I am not pregnant"
Theo now was in shock as he pointed to Jason saying "But he, he… what?"
Jason shrugged to Theo and approached to Lana saying "Sorry. I probably misheard. When you were unconscious, I heard you say 'baby'. Does it ring a bell?"
Lana looked at them in silence for a couple of seconds until she said quietly "I'm not pregnant"
"Are you sure?" asked Jason.
"Of course, I am" said Lana and Jason looked relieved, but Theo not so much.
"Well, that's something" said Jason breathing out.
Theo moved closer to Lana taking her hands and saying "Lana, listen to me"
"Back off!" yelled Lana pushing Theo away "You… freak!"
"Everybody calm down" said Jason to both of them then he took Theo's arm pushing him "Go to the corner"
"What? I won't" said Theo looking at Jason like he was mad.
"Just do it. She is scared and you are not helping" said Jason firmly and Theo looked at Lana who was terrified of him and nodded. Theo walked to the bed and crossed his arms as he looked at them. He sincerely thought that Lana was acting in Central Park. Now, he wasn't so sure. What Ewan did to Lana?
Theo heard Jason saying almost sweetly to Lana "Sorry about my friend. He had a couple of rough days"
"That's okay. I guess" muttered Lana and Theo saw Lana's blushing cheeks.
"What's the last thing you remember?" asked Jason.
Lana looked around thinking until she said "I was dancing in a ballroom, New Year's Eve"
Theo almost shouted from across the room "Do you remember how you got here?"
Lana glared at Theo and said annoyed "I said I was dancing. I must have fainted. The dress was heavy and the corset really tight" Then she smiled at Jason "Where are we? This is not my hotel room for sure"
"Tartarus" said Jason and Lana's smile faded. She looked paler than before, white as a sheet and shivered.
"Tartarus?" said Lana looking around terrified and her breathing turned fast.
"Calm down. We are safe at the moment" said Jason calmly.
"But, but… nobody comes out of Tartarus" said Lana so petrified that it looked like she never moved her mouth.
"My parents did. Percy and Annabeth" said Theo from across the room.
Lana glared at Theo like she wished to have a pebble to throw at him. She said loudly "You are liar. Percy doesn't have any sons. I know him"
Theo looked upset and ready to shake Lana into her former state but Jason got between them shielding Lana of Theo's eyes. Jason said kindly "We will find a way out. Are you hungry?"
Lana blushed again as she noticed that Jason was really handsome with the same pretty eyes as Ewan. She said a little bashfully "Starving. Who are you?"
"I'm Jason Grace, son of Jupiter and he is Theo" said Jason.
Lana raised her hand to do a little shy wave and said "Hi. I'm Lana, daughter of Triton."
