A/N: TRIGGER WARNING THERE ARE EMOTIONS IN THIS CHAPTER AND SOME VIOLENCE SO PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

Also, I don't own Percy Jackson or the characters and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Leo's POV

She was protecting me. Why would she do that for me? My heart is pounding and so many different thoughts are racing through my head as I stare down at Cammy in the hospital bed, marks scattered across her body. I gently trace the mark on her arm from where the belt hit her. I don't even realise I'm crying until I feel a tear fall on my arm. Wiping it angrily, I sigh. How could I let this happen? She's here because of me. If I hadn't texted her or if I just left her alone, none of this would have happened.

She shifts slightly and groans. Her eyes flutter then close as soon as they open. Her cute little hands rub at her eyes then she opens them. Confusion crosses her face as she looks around the disturbingly clean hospital room. The muscles in her jaw clench when she sees her arms. Covered in bruises and red marks. She looks up at me, tears in her eyes and chokes on a sob when she sees I'm still here.

"You stayed." Her voice is barely audible; low and raspy. I guess she hasn't had a drink in a while. I scoot my chair closer to the bed and take her hand in mine. Despite her lack of mobility, it's so warm and soft. It's like it fits perfectly in mine.

"Take it easy, okay? Here," I hand her my glass of water and she finishes the whole thing in one go. I pour her another one. She takes it but doesn't drink.

"What happened? I mean, after I passed out?" her stomach growls but she ignores it. She needs to eat…she gives me a look that tells me to worry about it later.

"Um, my…father" he hisses the word out through clenched teeth, "he beat you. Kicking, punching, screaming about how you can't barge into someone's house and stop them from teaching their kids a lesson." My breath hitches as I try to think about how I can get through the next part without crying.

"I couldn't stand…to watch him hurt you anymore…so I hit him and knocked him out and…you were lying on the floor, so lifeless and…I thought I…" I can't stop the tears that flow down my face. She laces her fingers through mine and squeezes gently. Her smile gives me the courage to swallow the lump in my throat and finish the story.

"I called an ambulance and the police came. They wanted to take you away from me, but I wouldn't let them. I couldn't leave you, not without knowing if you were going to be okay. They told me to wait outside, but I couldn't. You looked so lifeless and I was so scared. Gods, I thought-I thought I was going to lose you. I just couldn't help thinking it was all my fault and if you didn't make it, I would always blame myself and I couldn't live with it."

I finally look up at her and see silver lining her eyes. It's enough for me to choke on a sob and break down in tears. God, when did I get so weak to cry in front of the girl I love? Love? Oh god.

"I shouldn't have brought you into this, if I hadn't texted you then you wouldn't have even thought to come to my house and I thought I could protect you, but I can't, I'm too weak. I'm so sorry Cammy, please forgive me." Her fingers run through my hair and she pulls my head to her chest. I adjust myself so I'm lying on the bed next to her, crying into her shirt. The hospital gown smells like old people, but I push that aside and focus on Cammy's breathing and her heart beating rapidly.

I calm down quickly, the feeling of her fingers running through my hair relaxing me. She grips my chin and forces me to look at her. Tears stain her face and a small smile lingers on her lips. Her lips. I just wish I could kiss them. She rests her head against mine and releases a breathy laugh.

"What?" I whisper in fear of ruining this beautiful moment. She shakes her head and leans away from me. I internally groan at the sudden loss of physical contact.

"I just can't believe you've had to endure that for…how long?"

I shudder at the memories of every time he's hit me. Every day for the last 12 years, he'd hit me with a stick, whip me with his belt or beat me with his fist the good old-fashioned way. I became so accustomed to it, it was just another part of my daily routine. No kid should ever have to endure that.

"12 years…" her jaw goes slack and she pulls me into her again. I don't cry. I just lie there with her in silence for a few minutes.

"I can't believe you had to endure that for 12 years. And you never told anyone about it. Never let anyone in and see how vulnerable you were. Still are. I can't believe how well you kept up an entire bad boy façade for 12 years. You never had a childhood. And I'm the first person who found out."

"And look what it did to you. I should have stayed out of your life and left you alone. When I first saw you, I knew that I had to have you. I felt like we were destined to be together, but I was so caught up in the thought of you that I forgot about my completely messed up life. I should have let you go."

I have no idea where any of this is coming from. I guess I just knew it was true for a while now but I didn't want to admit it because I wanted her so bad.

Her hand travels up and down my back, tracing patterns, calming me. I can feel her other hand in my hair, running her fingers through my messy, too-long curls.

"I know I came off as strong earlier, and I'm sorry," her voice breaks and I look up at her. Even when she cries, she's still beautiful.

"I've had a really rough past, too. One that I've never told anyone about…" she gently pushes my head off her chest and starts taking her gown off.

"What are you-" she twists so I can see her back. It's covered in scars similar to mine. I can't even find the words to describe how much rage and pain I feel when I lightly run my fingers along the scars upon scars that cover her small frame.

"Who did this to you?" I manage to growl out once I regain the ability to talk.

"5 years ago, my mum told my dad that she was leaving him for another man because she didn't love him anymore. So, he held me hostage until my mum promised she wouldn't leave him. But, he didn't let me go. He got kicked out of his job, all his friends left him and he became an alcoholic. Every night, he came home and abused me, sometimes verbally, always physically. He blamed me for my mum wanting to leave him, he always said it was my fault. And I believed him." She pulls her gown down and turns to face me again. The hem rides up around her legs and I see more marks on her thighs. She catches me staring at tugs it down. That's when I notice the marks on her arms. Self-harm marks. I'd know them anywhere.

"I guess we're not so different after all." She jokes with a small chuckle.

"What happened to your dad? Is he…is he still around?" my voice wavers and I swallow the growing lump in my throat.

"No, he's uh…he was arrested 6 months ago for domestic abuse, extortion, harassment and endangerment to himself and others. I haven't seen him since then." Her voice sounds hoarse, so I offer her some water. She coughs and nods. The glass is empty again a second later.

"So, do you live with your mum? Did she end up with the other guy?"

"No, she didn't. It's just me, her and Percy but he's not around much anymore, ever since he got into the swim team. Mum was too scared to go back to the guy she was seeing. She kept having nightmares that my father escaped from prison and came to our house and killed us all. So, she told him, his name was Paul, that they couldn't be together for personal reasons. And, she puts on a happy face for me and Perce but we both know she's really hurting and there's nothing either of us can do."

"I'm sorry." I don't know why I say it. I didn't do this to her. And there's nothing I could have done to stop it if I knew. I just wish she didn't have to go through any of that.

"It's not your fault." She mumbles with a small smile on her face.

We sit in silence for at least 10 minutes, both of us squeezed together on the small hospital bed. Her fingers tangle and untangle themselves in the hair at the nape of my neck and my fingers trace random patters up and down the outside of her thigh. It's an innocent touch and I can tell it makes both of us feel a sense of happiness neither of us have felt in quite some time now.

"I don't mean to pry," I finally whisper, breaking the silence. She lifts her head from my chest and looks up at me with her big, green eyes.

"But, weren't you and Nico hanging out after school? He told me you were going to do homework at your place."

"Yeah, he was about to leave when I got your text…wait, where is he? Where's my mum? Is my brother here?"

I place my hand on her cheek and look into her eyes.

"Your mum and Percy are here. Nico was here before, but I told him to go home. He said he'll see you at school tomorrow."

She's quiet for a minute but then wipes a tear from her face and sniffs.

"Can you get my mum and my brother for me? I really want to see them." I nod and make to get up but she grabs my hand and pulls me back. Her forehead rests against mine and my heart stops. I can feel her breath on my lips, her cold nose against my own and her hand in my hair.

"Thank you," she whispers shakily.

"For what?"

"For everything. For saving my life. For telling me about what happened with your dad. For letting me in. And for staying here with me."

I swallow thickly and try to talk again. When I regain my composure, I whisper "I'd do anything for you." Then I stand up from the bed and walk out the door with a smile at her over my shoulder before I leave.

Percy and Cammy's mum are sitting in the waiting room, both with a coffee in their hands, looking like they've seen better days. They stand up instantly when they see me and start bombarding me with questions. Their eyes are filled with so much emotion and it only makes me angrier at my father for doing this.

"She's awake and talking. She's going to have some scars for sure, but I'm not a doctor so, I don't know if they can be healed or not, but we can ask. But, knowing her, she will want to keep them as a reminder of what she went through. My point is, she's going to be okay. She's asked for you both to go in."

Mrs Jackson starts completely balling her eyes out in front of me and Percy has to hold her up so she doesn't fall to the ground.

"Thank you for looking after my daughter. I will forever owe you." She weeps.

I take her hand and shake my head.

"I would do anything for her. You don't have to owe me anything." Unfortunately, this only causes her to cry harder as Percy walks her to the door.

"Thanks, Leo. I'll always be grateful for what you did for my sister."

I wave and offer a sad smile.

"No problem."

He nods and follows Mrs Jackson into Cammy's room. So, I'm left to sit in the waiting room, with my head in my hands and cry, waiting to be called in to see her again.