Will didn't know why he woke up.

It was still quiet, Nico was still curled at his side, and the sun wasn't up yet.

One of Nico's knees was jabbing at Will's thigh, and his lips were just barely touching Will's freckled shoulder. His small hands, just barely visible in the faint moonlight, were curled and limp, like dead doves.

And he was still.

A stillness that the living did not posses.

"Nico." Will whispered, like a prayer.

But no one answered.

An overwhelming panic rushed through him, threatening to spiral him into shock.

But Nico was warm.

Warm with a life that only Will could sense.

He cradled the dead, but not truly dead, boy in his arms. He wasn't breathing. And his heart wasn't beating. Blood didn't flow in his veins. He was dead.

But not quite.

"Nico. Nico! Baby, come on. I know you're in there." Will put his hand on Nico's chest and suddenly the cabin was illuminated in a blinding white light.

It was coming from Will.

Will sobbed in desperation as people shrieked and screamed as the white light expanded, but Will couldn't control it. He just needed help. Nico needed help.

Tears streaked past his cheeks and ugly gasps threatened to choke him as he sang a hymn.

Nico needed help.

But none that Will could give him. Even now he could feel his strength fading him. Apollo's magic was to heal, to take the injured and strengthen them. It couldn't raise the dead.

But maybe…

The door burst open and Will sobbed in relief.

"Guys! H-Help him."

Annabeth froze, looking down at them as the light dimmed. Jason was the second one in and then Percy right behind him. They just stood there looking down in horror and shock and sorrow.

"Why are you just standing there?!" Will cried.

He knew they had to hurry if they wanted to revive him.

"Will…" Annabeth put a hand on his arm. "He's gone." Her eyes looked incredibly sad.

No.

No. Will could feel him. Feel the life and warmth inside.

Hazel gave an injured cry as she stumbled back against Frank's back.

Will didn't have time to explain. "Percy! Come here. Come here. Now."

There was a desperate plan forming in his head. Something that couldn't possibly work, but he somehow knew it would. This was not Nico's time.

This was not the day he died.

The son of Poseidon stumbled towards him, blinking out of his shock to stand by the bed and stare down at him.

"He's alive!" Hazel blurted, pulling out of Frank's arms, her tear-streaked face now full of hope and amazement. "He's alive! B-But he's leaving!"

Percy put his hand near Nico's lips. His face expressionless. "No. He's dead."

"Listen to me!" Will tried. He could hear what sounded like the whole camp outside the cabin. But the people he'd summoned weren't listening to him.

"We should…take him to the infirmary or something." Jason said.

"SHUT UP!" Will yelled. "Jason! Come here!"

They were staring at him.

And in that second they weren't the Heroes of Olympus. They weren't the powerful children of the gods who saved the world and fought giants.

In this moment they were just a couple of kids who had gone through way too much already and now they were sad and hurt and scared because someone they loved was lying before them, dead. And they didn't know what to do about it.

"I need your help." Will begged.

"Yeah. Yeah, okay." Jason and Percy both looked at him warily.

Will took a deep breath, arms trembling as he clutched his beloved.

"P-Percy. I need you to help me restore his blood-flow. Use your powers and make it go through his heart. Jason, you take care of the breathing. Once you restore his body, I…I am going to try to…to pull him back."

Will met Hazel's eyes.

She nodded.

"Okay." The son of Hades took a trembling breath and gestured towards Percy. "Go. Be careful."

But Percy shook his head wildly. "No. No. I can't do that. I-I've never done that before…I don't know how-

Jason was breathing heavily like he was already practicing to give Nico his breath back.

Desperation colored Will's cheeks.

He could almost convince himself that this was all a dream.

A bad dream.

Just a nightmare.

But it wasn't.

"Percy. You can do it. It's not like you can hurt him anymore than he already is. But if you don't start now, he might have permanent brain damage…or worse."

This was going to hurt Percy. Will didn't know what had happened in Tartarus, but Annabeth and Percy both paled. Like some unpleasant memory had resurfaced.

But it was necessary.

"Percy, please." Will begged.

"Do it, Percy." Jason snapped.

"It's okay." Annabeth said softly.

The son of Poseidon made a sound between a snarl and a whimper, placing a firm hand on Nico's chest and a trembling one on his head.

"I'm not supposed to be able to do this." He whispered.

No one answered his silent plea.

Jason stood next to him, furrowing his brow in concentration.

Will thought he could see Nico's chest move.

Piper and Annabeth stood by the door, talking to Chiron and telling the demigods what was going on.

Frank drew the curtains, looking sick.

And Will?

Will whispered and glowed.

Nico didn't stir.

? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ? ﾟﾌﾀ?

DON'T FREAK OUT.

Predictions?