Disclaimer: I do not own anything besides the basic plot.

Main Pairing: Nico/Percy

Summary: Set after the war with Gaea. Tartarus has taken a greater toll on Percy than he thought. The war with Gaea is what consumed his time; now that it's over he has too much time. When he realizes what the price is for being in Tartarus he isn't so sure that he was glad to survive.

Chapter 10: Diagnosis

PERCY

Nico had a tight grip on his hand as they followed will back to the infirmary. The whole way there was silent and Percy wasn't sure he liked that. His heart was hammering against his ribcage and he was sure everyone they passed could hear it. If it hadn't been for Nico holding his hand he was sure that at this moment he would be hiding somewhere hoping that they never found him. Just by the way Will's voice sounded and how his soul churned with a mix of anxiety, worry, and nervousness already had him on edge.

"I'm here with you mio amore." Damn Nico just knew what to say right then. The son of Hades definitely earned himself points there even if it was a coincidence. Percy couldn't bring himself to say anything as he simply nodded and numbly let Nico pull him along.

The only thing Percy was focused on was reading Will's soul. Colours burst and dulled in a depressing way, looks like the news was going to be bad. Damn it, he had to tell himself he wouldn't be scared that he wouldn't show that he was but he was downright trembling. He couldn't stop himself and it wasn't like he was cold, it was because he was scared to death. A million things passed his mind as to what could be happening to him but the worst would be death. That, death, would be absolute worst because he would be leaving a group of awesome friends his super-hot boyfriend and his mum and step-Paul, not to mention his father.

A strong arm placed itself around his shoulders as his hand was let go. Nico pressed Percy into his side and he felt extremely safe there. His trembling subsided as more souls came into focus. Looks like the whole gang was gathered and if he was seeing right it was Annabeth, Reyna, Jason, Leo, Piper, Frank, and Hazel standing, or they could be sitting he wasn't sure, waiting to hear the news. He really didn't want to cry in front of them if it was bad but he would rather have them here than anyone else.

"H-hey guys." His voice cracked, that hadn't happened since he was 13 and it gave it away that he was scared.

"Come on Percy, Will says he wants to talk to all three of us, you, me, and Nico." She didn't sound much better than he did and he couldn't blame her.

The three of them broke off from the group as Annabeth took to other side holding his hand. Will followed behind them, the door behind them with a deafening click when it closed. The tension was so thick in the room Percy was sure he could have sliced it with Riptide. He could hear Will moving around as he no doubt found a spot to sit.

"Make yourselves comfortable, please." Nico put Percy in his lap with Annabeth beside them. Still the tension was as thick as fog while they waited for Will to call out the first name.

"Annabeth." Percy watched as her soul shuddered and grew smaller with fear while he was sure he could hear her heart rate speed up. "We will start with you."

"Yeah sure, that's fine." What if they were saving the worst for last? That thought crossed all their minds

"I just got the results not even twenty minutes ago but it looks like you're completely fine. It's nothing to worry about at all." Relief washed over the trio that was one person less to worry about.

"Thank the gods." Annabeth turned and gave an awkward double hug to Percy and Nico.

"Oh my gods I am so relieved I don't want anyone to have to go through this." Percy gestured to his eyes as Annabeth snatched up his free hand and held it like a vice waiting for Nico, the worst was for last… wasn't it?

"Now, Nico yours seems to be fine as well. I couldn't find anything that would make me think otherwise." Finally Nico let the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding out. Yet he couldn't help but hold another breath and wait for Percy's news while the smaller demi-god fidgeted on his lap.

"Last but not least is Percy." All attention was directed toward the scared son of Poseidon. Percy new it wasn't good because Will's soul was nervously bubbling and churning. "Whatever happened in Tartarus it has struck back harsher on you and it seems that it's consuming your mortal DNA like a parasite. I have examined your eyes and there isn't a reason for them to be this way but when I compare that data to the data a received from your DNA it seems to be stemming from that. Percy… it's eating away at your mortality, y-you're going to… die." The last word was whispered but it was heard like a bomb. Die.

Percy couldn't hear them talking anymore, everything was numb. The worst was certainly saved for last in this case. He stood up from Nico's lap ignoring the questions directed his way as fear washed over him and made him dizzy with nausea and threw up dropping to his knees and shaking violently as he screamed and cried loud enough for those waiting outside to hear.

Annabeth and Nico couldn't even get close to him, they had tried to touch him but Percy would whack their hands away. The only thing they could do was heavily sedate him and to get that done they would have to hold him down. Nico took his right while Annabeth was on his left and the pounced on him and held the wildly flailing son of Poseidon long enough for Will to stick the needle in.

Soon they had a softly sobbing Sea Prince in Nico's arms holding him tightly and rocking him back and forth. "I'm so sorry mio amore, I'm here for you." Soft sobs where all Percy could produce as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Again he was in a black space in his dreams. Even in his dreams it appeared as though he still couldn't see anything. There was no one else in the dream for there weren't any souls or any sign of a living creature. Just Percy by himself and he couldn't help but feel panic close in his throat as he frantically looked around. Even though he knew it was useless he still tried to see around him, stretching his arms out feeling and searching for anything. There wasn't anything.

He was alone with a great black expanse all around him and not even here could he see, how cruel. Out of desperation he screamed until his throat hurt and his lungs burned. This was so, he didn't even know how to phrase it – just plain unfair. Going to die! After everything he had done and after finally getting the guy and having a seemingly normal life this bomb had to explode in his face. Damn it!

"Ah, hello Perseus Jackson it's so good to see you again!" That voice he recognized it but from where? Where had he heard that voice, that voice which held so much power and authority that scared him and reminded him of a dark hole… Tartarus.

"You, you did this to me!" Scream, yeah that's a good idea to do to the guy who pretty much is killing you. That's going to solve everything.

"I see you like my little gift to you, today it's your eyesight… who knows tomorrow it may be something much worse, say… your life!" It wasn't a question that stupid hell hole was giddy and happy about this, he was waiting for it to happen.

"I am not… I am not giving up. I, my friends and I will find a way… There has to be a way… right?" Why had it come out as a question! He was supposed to sound confident in this and not buckle before his enemies.

"A way… hmmm probably not, you're going to die Perseus Jackson and that is the cold hard truth." As Tartarus laughed the great black expanse shuddered and right then Percy realized that this was Tartarus's being, this horrible blackness was that things essence, its aura. It terrified Percy.

He wanted to run and hide but there wasn't anywhere to go. This blackness was Tartarus's aura and it felt like it was suffocating Percy. Maybe it was and this was how he would die, in his dreams. That would be one for the record books, first person to be suffocated in a dream. At least someone would laugh about that.

"You're lying there is always a way to fix something, even death. There is a way I know there is!" Frantic, that's how he felt right now. Percy wanted there to be a way so badly, like Apollo swooping down and magically healing him or eating a rare plant from Demeter or Persephone that cures all ailments. Yet Percy knew none of that would happen, no one had ever come out of Tartarus before he, Annabeth and Nico did so there wouldn't be anything they could do. Nothing, he would die and that was plain and simple. The truth really was cold and hard.

Balling his fists Percy shook them at the whole of Tartarus as the black thing heaved and let out a rumbling laughter that was much too sinister to be compared to thunder. It was terrifying and it made his knees knock together. There was no way he was getting out if this one; there just couldn't be a way. Damn it, why did he have to be a demi-god?! Right now he was resenting his father, hating him in fact.

"Yes! That's it, hate! Use it, own it, and hate the gods! They did this to you, everything is their fault." Percy was nodding along with Tartarus accepting every word that he spoke.

"Yes they did this… all their fault." Sanity returned to him in the memory of meeting Nico for the first time, how excited he was back then and how Percy had thought that he was a bit annoying. "No! You will not get me to turn on my family!" A scoff emanated from the darkness.

"You're too loyal, like a stupid dog. Then a dog is how you shall die. Mark my words Perseus Jackson, you will never find the cure." Hope sparked in his chest, so was he saying there was a cure? There's only one way to find out, make him mad.

"When I am good and dead I will crawl out of Elysium and plunge into your depths where I will become a thorn in your side. Since I will have the death mist over me no monster will so much as glance at me and I will take every opportunity to hit you where it hurts. Even in death I will be a bane to you." To add to his threat, and not let on he was scared shitless, he gave his best psycho smile directed at Tartarus's intimidating aura.

There was a frustrated grumble. "You are a demi-god you couldn't possibly be a thorn in my side!" Percy simply laughed for emphasis on his threat.

"Really, you think that? Remember what demi-god I am. I am Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, the pretty much two times saviour of the world, I destroy Titans and Giants for fun and you think I won't be a thorn in your side? Do you not remember how I got away from you when you even blessed me with seeing your hideous attempt at becoming something even resembling a human?" Yes! He had him! Tartarus's aura was shaking in anger and while anyone else would think they were going to receive their painful end there Percy was just hoping that this worked because if it didn't… let's not think about that.

"You little brat, I would almost rather have you live then suffer the torment of having you poking around for an eternity. Let me just make this clear, Apollo can't help you. There is only one such goddess who can and you will never find her time." It worked! Now Percy knew it was a goddess and most likely one who was bitter about being forgotten… damn.

"Yeah I will never reach her time, but remember who I am? I could reach her in a heartbeat and besides she seems to be a fan of mine, don't get your hopes on that." Work, please!

"I should have known Iaso would be your fan. Bah it doesn't matter; I will hinder you from ever reaching her in time. I will love to see the look on everyone's faces when they realize that they cannot help you." Hah! Tartarus wasn't as smart as he thought he was. Plans emmidielty started formulating in Percy's mind.

NICO

Needless to say but it felt like his heart had been ripped out and the enemy was squeezing it while making him watch. There was no way his Percy was going to die. Yet the results didn't lie, they had even consulted Rachel and she hadn't given him the answer he was looking for and because of that Nico had destroyed a few dozen practice dummies in the arena.

While Nico was taking a walk to try and cool himself off the heavily sedated Sea Prince was safely tucked away in his cabin. He had decided to leave before he had gotten his hands on anything in Percy's cabin otherwise it would be in shambles. Yeah, he was angry and there wasn't anyone could say to calm him down, at least not right now.

Just to watch how Percy reacted to the news tore away at his heart. At least he was here to help his Sea Prince. There was no way he would be leaving Percy's side once he woke up but for now he needed to cool off and get his rage out. Nico still couldn't understand why this had to happen to his Percy, this horrible thing. His heart clenched at the thought of losing Percy and then that horrid feeling he would feel when someone he loved passed on, if that happened he would for sure switch sides. Even though he told himself he would Nico knew that would make Percy upset if he ever thought of assisting the gods enemies but damn it he couldn't help himself, he wasn't angry and just wanted someone to pay.

Eyeing the already battered dummy Nico raised his sword ready to slice in two. Letting out a long breath through his nose he struck the dummy at the top of the head and brought his sword easily down and the dummy now lay in two halves. This didn't satisfy him one bit, he just wanted Percy to be ok and it felt like he couldn't do anything for his Sea Prince. He felt so useless.

"Hey Nico..." Not expecting anyone to speak to him Nico whirled around with his sword pointed at Hazel's throat.

"Gods sorry Haze… just a bad day." She gave him a sympathetic smile.

"I can only imagine if that news was told to me about one of my boys." She shuddered at the thought while Nico sheathed his sword. Geez he needed to calm down before he hurt someone and make his mood worse.

"So, come to give me a pep talk?" Yeah maybe it would help but he really didn't want one.

"Nope, no pep talk, just wanted to tell you that Percy is waking up and well he would probably freak if you weren't there since everyone else is watching him sleep like a hawk, including Will." Damn it, he forgot about Will, he really needed to get to his Percy.

Nico turned and waited for Hazel to join him by his side. They walked in silence to Percy's cabin. Sometimes he wondered how he was so blessed to ever find Hazel. Often he thanked whatever god, probably his dad, lead him to her. She was a beam of light after Bianca had died and quite frankly he was glad his dad couldn't keep it in his pants.

They entered through the back door and gods the place was crowded. If it hadn't been because Percy had a freak out early this would have been creepy as hell. Everyone had their eyes trained on the son of Poseidon like they expected him to bolt up any second and start screaming and perhaps Nico half expected it as well. The only person Nico wanted to leave was Will who was sitting beside Percy's bed and watching the demi-god with trained eyes, damn it, looks like he would have to let the fucker live… for now.

Percy's eyelashes fluttered as he opened and closed his sightless eyes. "I would just like to say that Tartarus is an asshole but he isn't very smart so that was good for me." He turned his sightless eyes on the small crowd while Nico was sure he had lost his marbles.

"Uh Percy, what do you mean?" Leo was curious as he got several nods to emphasize his question even though Percy wouldn't be able to see the simple gesture.

"Oh, I am talking about good news! You know, Iaso baby!" He grinned like a Cheshire cat and Nico was worried that the sedative had messed with his poor brain.

"What the heck is Iaso?" Nico came to sit beside Percy on the bed and snatched up the crazily smiling demi-gods hand.

"Well, it's a she and she is what I need to find." Percy gave a quick reassuring squeeze to Nico's hand. What the hell was he thinking?

"Who is she, this Iaso?" Annabeth leaned in curiously as Percy was beaming like a creeper.

"I have no idea but I need to find out. In my dream I had a very successful talk with Tartarus." How the hell can that be successful?

"Iaso, I know who that is. We Apollo cabiners make it a point of knowing all Greek deities who can heal. If memory serves she is the goddess of cures, remedies and modes of healing but not much is known about her and she was more of a demi-god never attaining full godhood." Cures, that was just what Percy needed and Nico could have almost kissed him if he hadn't been Will.

"So we just have to find a goddess we pretty much know nothing about, this will be fun." Percy was beaming and Nico couldn't help but how cute he looked when he was full of hope. The only thing Nico was afraid of was having his Sea Prince's hopes crushed, that he wasn't sure he could deal with.

"Yup exactly." Percy's smile faltered. "Though Tartarus did say he would not make it easy so I know I will be going but I can't expect you guys to come with me."

"No way in hell I am letting you go alone, so count me in mio amore." Nico kissed his cheek as pretty much everyone one in the room agreed to come and to his annoyance even Will said he was coming along because they would need a healer. As much as Nico hated it he was right.