"Jason!" Piper screamed. "Leo's hurt!"
I felt the wind on my face and strong arms hoisting me up. I don't really remember anything else until I felt cool sheets below me and a warm hand touching my arm. "Ow..." I groaned as pain like a dull knife pounded into my skull.
"Leo!" it was Piper's voice. "You're awake!"
"How long was I out?" I asked, pushing her hand off of me and opening my eyes.
"About an hour," she admitted.
"What!" I stood, panic ripping my heart.
"Sit down," Piper's charm speak was strong and I wanted to fight it but I couldn't. Obeying I shut my eyes again. It was really bright.
"Piper?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Can I have a glass of water?" Her fingers brushed mine with a glass of water in them. I downed the thing in two swallows.
"Feel any better?"
"Not really," I reached a hand to my head which seemed to be bandaged and then back to my side. I didn't appear to be wearing a shirt. I opened my eyes and looked down to see the tan, scarred, boney figure. "Why don't I have a shirt on?" I blushed furiously.
"Your shirt had blood on it." Piper hesitated for a moment. "Leo, what happened? We felt the ship shake and when we came upstairs the storm was coming so fast."
I hunched over, elbows on my knees and palms rubbing my eyes. "I don't know," I lied again. I don't know why I kept lying but I didn't want to tell anyone. Maybe I just didn't want them to worry.
"You know," Piper chastised. "You should tell me."
"I..." I desperately tired to think of a story. "I saw the storm and I thought I could handle it by myself so I didn't tell any of you. It just came to fast."
Silently I prayed she would believe me.
"Leo," Piper giggled if it was a matter of pride it didn't matter. "We're your friends we understand."
Guilt made my stomach churn. "Yea," I smiled, looking up at her. "No can I please go fix my ship. Without someone steering we're just floating in nowhere."
"Annabeth is steering, Percy's with her." Piper confirmed.
"Alright," I stood and Piper grabbed my wrist. "Calm down beauty queen. I want a shirt and hopefully breakfast."
She smiled.
Once I was back in my jacket I grabbed a water bottle from the dinning hall and headed up on deck.
Percy stood there, holding a map of the ocean and Annabeth had both her hands on the wheel.
"Morning!" I greeted, opening the water.
"Leo!" Annabeth smiled.
"You ok, man?" Percy asked. "Piper said you hit your head pretty hard."
I rubbed my bandaged head and grinned sheepishly. "Yea, dude, I'm fine." I walked to the map. "So where are we?"
"39 North 20 West," Percy recited, pointing at the map.
I winced, mentally kicking myself. That was really far of course. I swore under my breath and sighed.
"Whoa!" Percy held up his hands and smiled. "Language kid!"
I didn't respond. "Think you could keep the wheel for a bit Annabeth?" I downed half the water bottle.
"Sure why?"
"Engine's fried," I groaned. "I'm going to see if I can fix it. We're basically going along with the current at this point."
"I can take it," Percy offered. "You need all the help you can get and I'm no Einstein. Besides," he looked at the ocean with longing. "I need a reason to be above deck for a while.
"Sure," I nodded. "Thanks."
Annabeth kissed Percy on the cheek and followed me down below deck. I grabbed another water bottle before sliding down the railing to the engine. I almost cried. It was smoking at the huge rotaries whirred pitifully. I stroked the side while Annabeth watched, trying not to laugh.
"It's ok baby," I kissed the smoking hunk metal. "I will fix you."
"Come on," Annabeth laughed, punching me lightly on the shoulder. "What do you want me to do?" She turned on the engine and reached a hand out. I don't know how I moved fast enough but I lashed out like lighting and grabbed her wrist.
"Don't!" I cried. "Still hot. Don't want to burn yourself."
"Got it," Annabeth nodded, backing up. "What do you want me to do?"
I directed her to metal that wouldn't turn her hands bright red and worked on the rotor. It took an hour and two downed water bottles before it was running, poorly I'll admit but running.
"Success!" I cried as I typed in the last code and it whirred happily, smoke coming form all the right places. I was filthy and greasy but I didn't care. Annabeth's hair was in a pony tail and her shirt was caked in grease but she grinned.
"Alright," she sighed. "I'm going to take a shower now."
"Clean hands; dirty equipment," I followed her upstairs.
"I don't even know what that means," she wiped black sludge from her face. "You going to go get cleaned up?" she asked.
"Nah," I shook my head. "I think I'll go relive Percy from the helm."
She nodded and headed into the bathroom.
I found Percy at the helm, leaning on the wheel. "Hey!" He greeted, waving as I walked upstairs. "I felt the engine kick in. I kept us heading toward Camp."
"Thanks," I offered to take the wheel.
"You sure?" He asked, eying me. "You look beat."
"I was passed out this morning," I argued.
"For a half hour!"
"I don't need your advice daddy."
He raised an eye brow. "Bring me lunch and I'll give it back." I grinned at him and backed down.
"Got it fish face." I walked away.
"Fish face?" He choked as I vanished down the stairs.
Only three reviews? I'm almost disappointed.
Five for this chapter or I won't post it. :(
