Forever seemed to crawl by before the wind died down and the sea calmed. Leo's eyes were burning, but he didn't dare face any direction but forward. Festus fed him reports, the ship wasn't too badly banged up.
"Valdez," Coach said at his ear, with surprising gentleness, "let me take the wheel. You've been steering for two hours."
"Two hours?" Leo croaked.
"Yeah. Give me the wheel."
"Coach?"
"Yeah, kid?"
"I can't move my hands." Leo's fingers didn't respond, tightly woven around the wheel. Coach gently pried his fingers away, each digit complaining as he did so, stiff and sore. Leo rubbed at his eyes roughly, looking at the console. What was he forgetting? Staring at the controls, he just couldn't think. His eyes wouldn't focus, tired from their fixation on the horizon. "Watch for monsters, Coach." He said wearily. "And be careful with the damaged stabiliser. And-"
"I've got it covered, now go away!"
Leo stumbled away, his knees like marshmallows. He found the others around the mast. Percy and Jason sat with their backs to the masts, heads slumped with exhaustion. Louisa, sat on Percy's left, had fallen sideways over her brother's lap, her head upside down on his right. Her hair was tangled and pooling on the floor. Leo tipped his head at her, smiling bemusedly. She squinted at him, confused. Annabeth and Piper were trying to get the boys to drink some water.
"No sign of pursuit." Frank reported.
"Or land." Hazel mumbled, looking a little green. Leo glanced around; ocean for miles in every direction.
"Did you get the map?" He asked Annabeth. She nodded, pale.
"I'll have to study it. How far are we from those coordinates?"
"At top rowing speed, about an hour. Any idea what we're looking for?"
"No. Percy? Lou?" Louisa told her to do something physically impossible. Percy, eyes bloodshot and droopy, lifted his head slightly.
"The Nereid said Chiron's brothers were there and they'd want to hear about the aquarium in Atlanta. I don't know what she meant, but…" He trailed off, energy seemingly draining from the effort of speaking. Louisa groaned, picking up the sentence.
"Ya said she warned ya about Keto. She can't get us, but her kids can."
"Wonderful." Frank muttered. Jason tried to stand. Piper caught him as his legs buckled and he slid back down the mast.
"Can we get the ship aloft?" He asked, hugging his stomach. "If we could fly-"
"That'd be great." Leo agreed. "But Festus tells me the port aerial stabiliser got pulverised when the ship hit the dock at Fort Sumter."
"We were in a hurry." Annabeth said defensively. "Trying to save you."
"A very noble cause," Leo nodded, "I'm just saying, it'll take some time to fix. Until then, we're not flying." The twins cheered weakly.
"Sea good." Percy said.
"Sky bad." Louisa finished. She squinted at Jason. "'N' we outnumber you, Jay." They said that last bit together. Leo contained snickers as Jason sulked.
"Speak for yourself." Hazel had her hands over her mouth. Frank gently held her by the elbows, worry creasing his brow. Hazel smiled gratefully at him, glancing at the evening sun. It was almost to the horizon. "We need to go fast."
"Gotta go fast." Percy and Louisa giggled weakly.
"What?" Hazel puzzled. Annabeth shushed the pair, sending Hazel an 'ignore them' look. "We've burned another day," Hazel pressed on, "Nico only has three left."
"We can do it." Leo promised. "We can make it to Rome in three days, as long as no-" Water splashed him in the face. Louisa dropped her hand.
"Don't you dare finish that sentence."
"Is there any good news?" Frank asked. Leo spat out salt water.
"Actually, yes. Festus says Buford made it back safely, while we were in Charleston. Unfortunately, he lost the laundry bag with your pants."
"Dang it!" Frank huffed. Louisa started giggling, feebly, but uncontrollably. She hid her face in her hands, shoulders shaking. Percy patted her head, sighing and grimacing. He doubled over, groaning. Louisa's laughter turned into 'Ow ow ow's.
"Did the world just turn upside down?"
"I'm gonna be sick."
"And spinning." Jason added, pressing his hands to his head. "Everything's yellow. Is it supposed to be yellow?"
"Really really sick."
"That storm really sapped your strength," Piper said, helping Louisa sit up, "you need to rest."
"I was doin' fine. 'Til Percy started sappin' me."
"I did not."
"Did too. I ain't a spare battery, bro."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Twin connection. It's great. I feel gorgon's blood. You steal my energy."
"I… didn't know that was a thing. My bad."
"Frank," Annabeth said, "can you help us get them below deck?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Try not to drop them too." Leo said cheekily.
"Shut up, Valdez."
"You love me really, Zhang." Frank rolled his eyes at him. Annabeth helped him with the boys. Piper was trying to coax Louisa to her feet, tucking her arms under Louisa's and trying to pull her up, but Louisa complained and let herself be a dead weight. Piper dropped her, nearly tripping over her. Frank had already taken Jason down by this point, coming back for Percy. Annabeth turned to help Piper. Louisa lay on her side, glaring up at them both.
"Come on, Lou," Piper said as if talking to a naughty toddler, "let's get you somewhere more comfortable."
"I can do it… myself."
"I'll get some hotdogs." Piper bribed. Louisa's annoyance melted a little in contemplation. "And ice cream. And pizza. And cake."
"It's a date then, Pipes." Louisa smiled woozily.
"You've been hanging out with Leo too much." Piper and Annabeth got Louisa to her feet, Louisa's arm around Piper's shoulders. She managed to stumble between them and they disappeared down the stairs.
Leo looked to Hazel. They could hear Coach singing the Pokémon theme song, but he had changed it to 'Gotta kill 'em all!'.
"She's weird." Hazel said, mystified.
"Just a smidge." Leo agreed. "Means she fits in well with the rest of us though."
"Um, excuse me?"
"If you weren't weird, you wouldn't be a part of this crew. Take it as a compliment." There was a crash from below deck, quickly followed by Louisa laughing and Piper's "Lou, don't you dare!" Leo sighed, couldn't resist a smile. Hazel studied him sidelong. "What?" She held out her hand. Leo blinked at it.
"I think I know way to show you who Sammy was. Maybe it'll help figure out why you look so much like him."
"Oh. OK. Um, how?"
"I'm going to remember my past. I can take you with me." She waggled her fingers.
"OK," Leo said, tentatively taking her hand, "show me."
"Louisa, I swear to gods…"
"It's just a lil' smotherin', Blondie, gods."
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, you are not killing your brother."
"Funsponge."
"No, I second that." Percy grimaced. Piper took Louisa by the arms and dragged her away, forcing her to sit back on her bunk. Annabeth shook her head, helping Percy sip a glass of nectar.
"Why does she always want to kill you?" Jason asked.
"A lot of people do." Percy shrugged a shoulder.
"Well, I get priority." Louisa declared, trying to stand again. Piper pushed on her shoulders and she overbalanced, tumbling back onto the bed. "Rude." She muttered. Piper sat next to her. They had been trying to get some food and nectar into Jason and the twins, but only the boys had complied. Louisa seemed more interested in holding a pillow down on her brother's head. Piper picked up Louisa's bowl of chocolate pudding, pulling on her wrist until she sat up. "Ow ow ow."
"Sorry." Piper smiled somewhat apologetically. Louisa swayed, blearily watching Piper, dumbfounded. She complained wordlessly, falling forward, hugging Piper around the waist, her head on her shoulder. Piper held the bowl aloft, patting Louisa on the head.
"If you 'n' Jay don't work out, call me."
"Ooh, I had a feeling you were bi."
"Is that what it is? Noice."
"Don't steal my girlfriend." Jason warned.
"Or mine."
"Nah." Louisa hugged Piper tighter, pouting. Annabeth pretended to be offended, stifling laughter. Percy gripped her hand.
"Don't worry, Seaweed Brain. She's not my type either. Drink this." By the time Percy had finished his glass, Louisa had fallen asleep on Piper's shoulder. Piper was humming softly, looking amused, gently stroking Louisa's hair. Jason huffed and she laughed.
"You don't need to worry either, Sparky." Her eyes glittered knowingly.
"Ooh, she's got gossip." Jason realised. Annabeth shushed him gently, spoon feeding him chocolate pudding. Percy sighed, gradually drifting off. Jason managed a few more mouthfuls, but he didn't stay awake much longer either.
"So," Annabeth said, "what's this gossip?"
"Ooh, no, Lou would rip my arms off."
