To Guest- Thank you! And no, this is not the same her. There was more to Lilly's story, but I've forgotten most of the major details :(

To ThatFanWarrior- THANK YOU! :D I am still a year older than you, respect your elders! ^_^ Lilly just calls Theo 'Teddy' because it's her nickname for him and Theo doesn't like his full name because more often than not when a full name is used in the Jackson/Valdez circle, it means trouble :P

Eventually, they figured out restraining Theo didn't help. It was best to let him sit in a quiet, calming room with nothing he could hurt himself on or with. The lights were kept low otherwise they aggravated him; his painkillers were kept topped up and his leg was tightly bandaged. They told him they had removed the bullet with ease. There had been a minor operation to repair the muscle, but he should be OK. "It'll take a while to heal," the doctor had said "but you'll walk fine in the end, don't worry." That's what they kept telling him- It'll be OK, Theo. Have some more pills, Theo. Don't worry, Theo. Calm down, Theo. Just breathe, Theo. He had lost track of how long he had been here and how many times he had heard those words. He just knew it was long enough- too long- to be sick of the pale blue room with the too soft bed and the too nice nurses that constantly asked him if he was alright, did he need anything, was he hungry, did he want to go for a walk, maybe you should lie down if you're feeling so dizzy, on a scale on one to ten how do you feel.

Only his parents were allowed to see him, but one at a time so they didn't overwhelm Theo- he was kept separate from the other patients, for his sake and for theirs. He only left his room to go to the bathroom and even then he was accompanied by one of the nurses.

He would have made progress had it not been for the nightmares. She sent them every night, reminding him of his promise, showing him what would happen if he did and didn't follow through. "I can make you immortal; they'll fear you. Even the mighty Percy Jackson could not stand up to you. He will live in your shadow; you will be free of his. You just have on task, one simple task..." And for if he didn't follow through... "I will tear them apart. I will pull at every fibre of their beings, I will strike at their hearts, at their deepest fears, I'll tear them apart from the inside. They will rip each other to shreds. I may let one live, knowing what they've done... all because you were a fool, because you were weak!"

Theo tried not to sleep. The nurses sedated him. The nightmares returned. He tried to explain this to them, so they gave him a different kind of sedative, insisting he wouldn't get any nightmares. It didn't work. The visions just got worse and worse and he awoke screaming at all hours of the night. He would fight the nurses, the doctors, the guys they had here to help with patients when things got out of hand. Theo was definitely out of hand. He kept seeing her wherever he looked, awake or asleep. The voices had lodged in his brain, hundreds and hundreds of them all clamouring for his attention. He tried starving himself- they tube-fed him. He tried suffocating himself- they took away the pillows. He tried stocking up on his pills and taking them in one go- they found out. Anything Theo tried, they countered. He couldn't tell them the truth, they would just keep him here longer, increase the medication, increase his isolation. One day, they'd just tie him up in a strait jacket, lock him in a rubber room and throw away the key.

"Theo, is it something from our side?" His mother asked one day. She had asked this before, but her words had never gotten through the haze in his mind. Today they did and he latched onto them with all the strength he could muster. Unable to verbally express his relief, he gripped his mother's hand and nodded. Relief crossed over her features- this was a stepping stone, they could work with this. "You said something about a promise. And a 'her'. Has a goddess been talking to you?" He nodded again. She never said not to tell anyone- he just hadn't because he was scared of how they would react. "Do you know which one?" He tried to nod and found he couldn't move his head. "Theo?" He tried to speak; his voice failed. He couldn't lift his arms. He could only look at his mother pleadingly. Annabeth put her other hand over his. "Don't worry, we'll figure this out. You just focus on getting better so you can come home, OK?" He still couldn't move. He tried to answer with his eyes, hoping his mother would understand. Annabeth smiled and rose, kissing his forehead. "Your dad wants to see you too. I'll be just outside." She brushed a hand through his hair and left. Percy walked in a minute later, greeting his son with the usual smile, the stack of comic books and a hug. Theo breathed in the scent of the ocean and sighed. Tension seeped from his frame and he could move again.

"These might be a little used- we read them too." Percy sat next to him on the bed, dumping the comics in Theo's lap. "Lilly wanted to send you doughnuts, but she wasn't sure she would be allowed?" Theo nodded. At the mention of doughnuts- of rich, sugary real food- his stomach growled. Percy laughed and promised to bring some next time he visited. "Callum wanted to send you some films, but you don't have a TV." No, Theo did not have a TV. The colours hurt his eyes and they were worried he would try to strangle himself with the wires. "Not to worry though, you have comics. Much better." The colours in the comics were still bright, but at least they didn't flash like colours on a TV screen.

Percy sat quietly while Theo sifted through the comic books. It took him longer than it should have to focus on each book, the voices in his head screaming at him. He must have grimaced or something because Percy asked if he was alright. Theo looked up at his father, desperate to explain. Meeting those sea green eyes, Theo's voice stuck in his throat and he found himself shaking his head against his will. Percy didn't look convinced, passing his hand through Theo's hair and frowning slightly. Theo leant his forehead against Percy's shoulder and inhaled that oceanic smell. Percy hugged him again. "Alvie said he'll try and visit later on." He said quietly in Theo's ear. "He's going to see if he can help you with your nightmare problem." That would be nice. Theo could go to sleep and wake up without feeling less tired than the night before or hurting anyone. "We'll get you home, Theo. Then we can sort out that other problem of yours."

"I know what we should do." Callum declared.

"Oh, do tell. I'm sure any idea of yours is a great one." Max grumbled. He and Callum exchanged glares. Annabeth snapped her fingers impatiently and the two looked away from each other.

"I am not having vampire-werewolf hatred between my sons." She said fiercely, defiantly looking at the pair. Max and Callum muttered apologies. "Callum, what's this idea?"

"We need to get something to take Theo's mind off whatever is bothering him, right?" They all nodded. "So, why don't we get him a hobby or a girlfriend or something like that?"

"A hobby would probably be better." Sage mused, drawing shapes and lines on the surface of the dining table. "I don't think Theo would be up to any emotional attachment right now."

"And, besides," Lilly added, "Theo's not really interested in any girls, is he?"

"Well, a boyfriend then."

"Callum!"

"I don't know what way he swings!"

"Will you not say that, I hate that phrase." Annabeth scowled.

"Deepest apologies, mother dearest. I simply meant I am as clueless as you are concerning Theo's sexual orientation."

"Oh my gods, you are so your father's son."

"I don't see why that's a bad thing and Callum, don't sass your mother, that's my job." Percy, at his wife's frown, dropped forward in his chair, putting all four legs back on the floor. "OK, ruling out any emotional attachments, girls and/or boys. That leaves a hobby."

"Stamp collecting." Tobias suggested, chewing on his thumbnail.

"How exciting." Sage shook her head.

"Fine, sky diving. Bungee jumping. Quad-biking. Air stunts."

"You're not helping."

"I am too!"

"Tobias, this is serious!"

"So am I! Get Theo to do something to get the adrenaline running, make him crazy in a good way." When no-one said anything, he shrugged. "You could just send him to Lou. She'll straighten him out, no big."

"But we don't know if he's straight, gay or what."

"Callum, I thought we said to drop that?" Annabeth sighed. Callum smiled sweetly. "You butt out of Theo's love life, he doesn't meddle in yours."

"'Cos it's non-existent." Max said under his breath.

"Heard that." Callum growled.

"Boys..." Percy warned. They fell silent, glaring at the table. Sage and Lilly shared exasperated looks, Annabeth closed her eyes and counted to twenty, Tobias and Percy looked to Alvie. "You've been very quiet. Any ideas? And how's the nightmare thing coming along?"

"I'm going along again later. His mind isn't in the best of states right now. I have to... fix quite a bit before I can do anything else."

"Any ideas what caused it?"

"Godly magic. There's a lot of it."

"Can you get rid of it?" Lilly asked tearfully. Alvie, sitting next to her, patted her on the shoulder.

"I'm trying. It's tied itself in, deeply. It'll take time, but I should be able to get Theo back."

"How much is time?" Callum questioned, leaning forward in his seat. Alvie shrugged.

"Weeks. Months maybe."

"Really?" Callum protested. "That's ridiculous! You're supposed to be the psychic brain ninja dude, why can't you fix him faster?"

"Callum!" His parents scolded together. "Don't talk to Alvie like that, you know it's not an easy thing to do!" Annabeth continued harshly. "He has to be careful with Theo's mind, especially now, and negativity from someone who's supposed to be supporting him doesn't help at all!"

"I'm sorry, OK?!" Callum shot back, jumping to his feet and glaring at them all. He turned and stomped off upstairs. Lilly made to get up to go after him, but Sage held her back.

"Let him calm down first. He misses Theo."

"You OK, Alvie?" Tobias was watching his brother concernedly. Alvie didn't look at all upset by Callum's outburst, a fire burning in his eyes. "You've thought of something, haven't you?" Alvie didn't respond immediately, his lips moving soundlessly as he studied his hands. He looked up at the ceiling, in Callum's general direction, and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were blazing the familiar snowy glow. No-one said anything in case they broke his concentration, all watching him intently.

"Di immortales..." He eventually cursed, his eyes fading back to normal.

"What is it?" Percy asked. Alvie hesitated.

"I have to check something." And just like that, he was gone. Max sighed grumpily.

"I hate it when he does that."