Hello people. This is all Rick Riordan's characters and geniussness. Thanks to my beta,

Peach. Chan. San.

Thank you for all your beautiful reviews, I always read them and respond when I can. Thank you for staying with me always!

Wait for the Blood of Olympus guys! XD October 7! I know that by now you all probably have it tattooed on your forehead but still.

Octavian POV

I watched Percy laughing. I know knew he had been playing with me…but for what? Just to have fun? He didn't seem to be devising any way to escape.

I felt Drew watching me. I turned to look at her. "What?"

"Why don't you take a break? You look so tired, why don't you take a nap?" Her voice sounded so sweet and soft, and it was true…I was tired; the idea of bed was so good. She only cared about my well being, it had been so, so, long, since someone had.

I nodded sleepily and walked towards her outstretched arms.

Just as the idea of "charm-speak" passed through my mind, I lost consciousness.

I awoke to a soft stroking on the side of my face and a voice whispering into my ear.

"I took care of everything. Don't worry."

Those words definitely made me worry… I sat up groggily. "What? How long have I been asleep?" I muttered.

Drew smiled sweetly. "Six hours. I told you, you were tired."

I frowned at her. "If you use that charm speak against me again you will be punished." I said sternly.

She rolled her eyes.

"What do you mean you took care of everything?" I asked.

She grinned and handed me a piece of paper full of information. I quickly scanned over it. It said why the half-bloods were there, the reason why Percy survived and other useful facts. My eyes widened with every line. She couldn't have gotten these using only charm speak…could she?

Dread sank into my veins as I looked into her eyes. I stood, clutching the sheet of paper.

"What's wrong?"

I shook my head and headed towards his cell. I opened it, he wasn't in the chair… panic gripped me as I looked around but, wait…there! I headed towards the corner of the room and gasped.

He was laying on the floor in a bloody mess.

Probably wishing he was dead.

He wasn't wearing a shirt. His back was a scarred bloody mess complete with whip-lashes and raw bloody skin.

I stared at his skin glistening with blood, and the raw pink flesh where the newly made scars were. There was blood everywhere, in his hair, on his jeans, even under his finger nails.

I bent down, careful not to look at his back anymore.

"Percy?" I whispered. I don't know why I felt the need to whisper. His head turned to look at me, wincing at the effort.

"Mmmm?"

His eyes were glazed over, and then as his eyes focused, clarity rushed into his eyes.

I wished I had let him sleep.

His eyes filled with pain and he tightened his fists, the skin around his knuckles bleeding. He moaned.

"Mom…" he groaned softly.

Six hours. Six hours of this.

I stood shakily, stepping away from him.

His muscles in his back flexed and he gasped in pain. He tried to stand.

"Don't." I said.

He looked at me and I resisted the urge to gasp. He had knife markings all around his face, as if someone had drawn a map using his face. His wrists and forearms had blisters that had cracked and were bleeding. He looked like a…like a-a torture victim.

His lips opened and he tried to speak, looking at me intently, his face literately lined with pain. I leaned in, sensing he wanted to say something. His hand shot up and he grabbed my shoulder roughly, his nails digging into my skin. He leaned in until his lips just about touched my ear and he said, ever so slightly…

"Water." His voice was barely a whisper and his voice was dry and rough.

"No," Said a voice behind me. I turned, startled. It was John, smiling wickedly and holding the whip, looking like it was dipped in blood. He saw where my eyes were directed and cleaned it with a quick swipe, splattering fresh blood all over Percy. He winced, as if even that hurt him.

"Don't give him water he will just heal himself."

I nodded. "Thank you John, your services are no longer needed." I said curtly.

He smirked at Percy and exited the room. I swear, that guy was just plain sadistic. I retrieved a water bottle and re-entered the room. He had not moved from his place on the floor. As I kneeled by him and uncapped the water bottle, I realized this was a little strange. I had put him here to suffer this very fate, yet I was helping him? Where had my earlier relish gone?

"Percy." I whispered. He held his hand out, not making eye contact with me.

I gave him the water bottle and he glared at me. Okay… so apparently he couldn't hold it. I took it back before he could drop it.

I spilled some of it on his scarred back and he immediately relaxed. I watched the scars close to faint white lines then the water spread to the rest of his body. As the water disappeared I gave him a piece of ambrosia. He then slowly sat up; I sensed he was still too weak to stand. He glanced towards Riptide sitting on the table.

"Wait. I will help you escape." The words were out of my mouth before I knew what I was saying.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. "What."

It wasn't even a question, more like a bland, incredulous statement.

"I am the praetor here. I'll take you back to Camp Half-Blood."

"Why?" he asked, looking at me intently.

I tipped the rest of the water into his lips. He leaned back his head eagerly. As I watched him drink, I felt the same weird butterflies in my stomach, a happy, light, giddy feeling. I was definitely in love. Why Cupid? Why me? Why him?

A plan was slowly forming in my mind.

Nico POV

We had searched absolutely everywhere. They wouldn't let us into the Roman camp but they told us that they had taken no captives. I didn't believe them though.

"Nico, the Roman's aren't liars." Jason repeated for the thousandth time.

"Octavian is." I replied. "We have to get in there."

Annabeth stood. "Why don't we all get some sleep and we'll talk in the morning." She had her newborn baby in her arms and she looked tired.

"We'll try to contact Octavian again tomorrow." Calypso said smoothly, taking Leo's hand and looking at me reassuringly.

I walked outside and looked at the moon glaring down at me and fought down the wave of tears threatening to take over.

Just when he was finally mine, he goes ahead and decides to disappear.

I sighed, and the stars seemed to be mocking me in all their beauty.

Percy POV

I decided not to tell Octavian that I was claustrophobic. Apparently, that was a mistake. Cramped in the trunk of his car, breathing in the musty air, darkness surrounding me and the sides pressing down on me, I was having second thoughts about this escape plan.

We were to stuff me in the back of his car then he was going to drive to Camp Half-Blood and ditch me there...simple right?

Well, he didn't mention the potholes. Or the speed bumps. Or his tendency to stray into gutters. Don't even mention the stop signs. That guy hit the brakes like he was going to run into another car every five seconds.

My stomach lurched. "Oh…gods…" I muttered. I was pretty sure Octavian wouldn't appreciate if I retched all over the back of his car.

After what seemed like an eternity the car stopped and I was blessed with silence. The opened and I stared up at him as he stared at me.

"What?" I said finally.

"You look…like you're about to throw up." He said, cracking a smile.

"Ugh…don't just stand there! Get me out of here!" I demanded, annoyed.

"Oh, right." He grabbed me and yanked me roughly when I was unprepared. I am not proud to say that I did, indeed, lose my lunch on his shoes.

"Aw…crap." Octavian muttered disgustedly.

Leaning dizzyingly, against a bright red Mustang, next to Octavian examining my vomit on his shoes… I started laughing.

He glanced at me sharply. "You think this is funny?"

I giggled and nodded that yes, yes indeed it was funny. After he had cleaned that up and I had regained my balance we stumbled onto the entrance to Camp Half-Blood.

"Wait, Percy."

I turned at the sound of his voice. "Yeah?"

"Why aren't you killing me? I mean I put you in there, and I basically did that to you." He looked down, ashamed.

"You want me to kill you?" I asked.

"Umm…I guess not."

"Then let's leave it at that." I responded.

He frowned and looked at me.

"We're even. You put me in there, you took me out." I said sternly.

"That's not enough. I know what he did— "

"NO YOU DON'T." I responded stiffly, pushing back the scenes from my head.

He stared at me in silence.

"I'm sorry." He whispered, barely audible.

I didn't know why, but I absolutely felt no anger towards him. "Why don't you come in? It was a long ride."

"No, no thanks I should be going now." He said, as If I had invited him into an empty apartment in a Saturday night. He turned to leave, and my hand shot out automatically and took his hand.

Like it was on fire, I quickly let go and we were engulfed in awkward silence.

"One quick question," I said, more to keep him there a little while longer. I felt like he was my friend somehow.

"How many days was it when you took me in?" I asked.

He winced. "How many do you think?"

I swallowed. "Five days?"I guessed.

He looked away. "Eight."

I blinked. "Eight days?"

"Weeks."

I flinched. "Oh my gods." I mumbled, in awe.

He nodded "You better get going."

I nodded. "Thanks, I guess I'll see you later."

"Yes, thank you." He responded.

I walked across the gates and I could feel his eyes watching me as I receded from view. I somehow knew that I would never see him again, and that I would forever remember the boy that gave me a gift when I most needed it.

I looked back at him, his hands in his pockets looking after me morosely.

Once he was barely visible, I stopped and raised that blue teddy bear, like an offering to the gods, and squeezed it, begging to be kissed.

He smiled.

End

Well, my children. Here we are. Thank you so much for sticking with me, ya'll are my chocolate brownies…thank you for putting up with my strangeness, and for reviewing, following, and all that good stuff. Please review and tell me what you think!

I love yall… i might add a few chapters describing the torture and his homecoming if i get enough requests in the reviews! ;)