Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 19

"My mom..." Percy gasped out, trailing off as if he forgot what he wanted to say. "Is she okay?"

"Shh, just calm down for a few seconds," Hestia whispered, a small smile on her face. "Let me get your father and Apollo, wait here."

"Where else can I go?" Percy retorted, feeling dizzy.

He watched her leave the ward with a little bounce in her step. When she was fully out of sight, he touched his back, wondering if 'himself' had removed it or not.

In all, he should've known that the catch was that a huge scarred X still remained in his back proudly. He groaned, dropping his head in his hands in his own self-misery. Only Annabeth can understand something as complex like this, he thought in his own pity.

"Hello Percy," a voice spoke.

Said person glanced up in shock.

"You're back to the real world," the person spoke again. A small smile could be seen through the black hood. "You don't need me anymore Percy."

"... Didn't you say that I created you though? Shouldn't I-" Percy started, but got cut off.

"Technically," he admitted. "But you don't need me anymore. I can still be there, but you don't necessarily need me."

Pounding footsteps could be heard, and Percy's eyes widened as he saw three silhouettes round up the corner in a fast pace. His sea green eyes switched towards 'himself' but he just laughed.

"They can't see me if you're wondering... Only if I want to be seen, but that takes a lot of energy... Your energy, for instance, the case with your mother..."

Percy gritted his teeth in annoyance, wincing as he heard his father's booming voice exclaim some statement about him.

"Glad to see you're alive Percy, even though you do look a little... Pale," Apollo said with a blinding smile.

"And who was the cause of that?" Poseidon reprimanded.

"It's not Apollo's fault," Percy finally said.

"Well, well, it looks like daddy dearest is becoming fake. Stare at his eyes," the 'created hallucination' said with observation.

Poseidon sent a sharp gaze towards Apollo before loosening up. "I'm just glad you're alive."

He looked in his father's eyes. All he saw was guilt. He drew back, staring at his previous attacker in shock. The 'created hallucination' stared back as if he was bored.

"Really makes you believe," the previous attacker muttered, mostly to himself. He met the gaze again. "When you go back to camp, first thing you do is ask one of the campers you trust the most- perhaps Thalia. Oh, I know you want to go to Annabeth but she can still be loyal to her mother in certain extents- believing her, perhaps lies."

The demigod shook his head, not saying anything.

"Anyways," he continued. "Ask Thalia, she isn't exactly showing any father favoritism these days. Ask her what the gods said about you during their visit. Even I don't know, all I do know is that they spoke of lies when they visited. Perhaps, maybe not. Then you'll understand, don't criticize too harshly, it might have been for the greater good."

He still remained silent. Apollo followed his gaze to an empty space in the infirmary, and his eyes narrowed, watching his sign language carefully.

"When can I go?" Percy finally asked.

The sea god started to smile nervously, (not that he wasn't smiling before.) He glanced at a clueless Apollo.

"I'll have to do a few checkups, but you can go after that. It'll take no longer than an hour, don't worry," Apollo laughed, not noticing the 'desperate' look on Poseidon's face.

Hestia sent a concerned look towards her brother, who was looking like he had ADHD. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Hestia," Poseidon responded, looking slightly better. He looked at Apollo again. "Don't you think Percy should stay here for a few days, to recover?"

"What?!" the demigod yelled incredulously.

Apollo shook his head. "So far he looks fine, there's no point in keeping him here."

"Just in case," Poseidon added in with a warning glance.

"You can talk telepathically," the previous attacker spoke.

Why is he acting that way? Was the first thing he thought of. He frowned, hiding a scowl as the two gods fought with one another pointlessly.

"I told you already," he spoke with a heavy sigh. "He's hiding something. I think he told some gods to tell the campers about you... But it must be something fake if he's so worried about you going back to camp. Interesting."

Can't you go to camp and ask? Percy asked mentally, crossing his fingers.

"Can't," came the gruff reply. "Sorry. What you can do though, is wait for all of them to leave and ask for Hestia to bring you to camp."

She'll probably say no.

"You never know, it's worth a try."

"He's fine! He doesn't need to stay here longer than necessary!" Apollo shouted in exasperation.

Hestia sighed as Poseidon made a brilliant comeback of being a caring father. She stared at the demigod quietly, shaking her head silently. He stared back at her.

"Go on; ask her now, while the others can't hear."

"Uh... Hestia?" Percy asked, making sure his voice could be only audible to the goddess. He didn't wait for a reply. "Do you think you can teleport me to camp right now?"

The goddess sighed, switching her gaze to the two gods. "I don't know Percy... I know that Poseidon is being rash right now, but Apollo does need to do a checkup on you."

"After the checkup then?" Percy asked hopefully.

She looked uncertain. "I don't know Percy. Your father wants you to stay..." Looking at the demigod's crestfallen face, she sighed again. "But then again, I suppose it is unnecessary... Don't you want to see your mother first?"

A wide grin spread on his face and he hugged the goddess, thanking her more than a dozen times. The two bickering gods stopped their argument for a few seconds to stare at the hugging pair.

"Hestia," Poseidon called out curiously. "What do you think?"

Somehow, she still managed to keep her calm composure. She turned to meet her brother's gaze. "Why keep him imprisoned if he is perfectly fine?"

"You too?!" Poseidon raged.

"What is it with you?!" Percy finally snapped. "Why are you so content on keeping me in Olympus and not to see my mom or go to camp?!"

"Percy," Poseidon pleaded. His son looked at him in amazement as if he couldn't believe gods could stoop that low. "Just a few days, Hades, just stay here for one day!"

"One day to fix all of his mistakes," the 'Grim Reaper' spoke wisely. "Hmm... That's not too shabby..." He stared to look at his creator. "It's your decision. Let him fix his mistake about you, or find out his mistake first. Tough one."

"Go visit Sally first then," the sea god offered with a hopeful smile. His smile turned troubled. "Then you can go to camp."

The demigod stared at the supposed empty spot in the middle of the infirmary where his attacker stood solemnly. His sea green eyes begged for an answer.

"I'm sorry Percy," the hooded person spoke in barely a whisper, yet it was still audible. "But I'm afraid the choice is yours. Although if you give Poseidon a chance, then ask for Hestia to go to camp and ask... But like I said before, it's your choice, your decision, your moment of truth."

"... I'll go see mom," Percy decided, trying to ignore the joyous look in his father's eyes. He frowned for a while, his gut instinct telling him to do otherwise.

Poseidon looked grateful. "I'll get going so Apollo can do his checkup." He hugged his son tightly before going out the room, teleporting away when he couldn't be seen anymore.

The three occupants watched the sea god go in confusion.

"Well," a voice spoke. Percy looked up, listening attentively. "I suppose it's time for me to go."

"Percy who's there?" Apollo asked curiously. "You keep on looking to that empty space in the middle... What's wrong?"

Percy watched as he disappeared into nothingness. A small frown settled into his face, but he shook his head. "Nothing's wrong. I'm fine."

A/N: Sorry for the late update, but I don't have any inspiration and this was all I came up with, so, not exactly my greatest chapter. I don't exactly have all the free time in the world, so bear with me if the updating is getting worse. Thanks for all the support!

emmalunajackson33: Thanks! And sorry that this chapter doesn't explain much, but if you have any questions, just PM.

Daydreamer with wings: Thanks, and I'm trying to update but it's getting harder for me to do.