Disclaimer: All rights to Rick Riordan. I own nothing, but the plot.

Themes of self-harm, anxiety, and depression are expressed within this story. TRIGGER WARNING! Please do NOT read if these themes upset you. TRIGGER WARNING!

Criticism is appreciated, but please no hate. Please review and leave me suggestions! Enjoy!

Will's POV:

"-can't believe Hades came here!" A voice sounded by Will's head, but he was still too tired to figure out who was speaking.

"He was concerned about Nico." Another female voice spoke up. Who was talking? "He wanted to make sure he was okay. Will's skills amazed him, and he was surprised that Will would compromise his own health to save his son. Hades wanted whoever was responsible to be found and said he would return when we got evidence."

"How is Nico?"

"Will was able to heal most of his injuries, but he isn't 100% okay yet. And he still hasn't woken up." Kayla. That was Kayla.

"And Will?" It was Annabeth.

Kayla sighed. "No change. He's been down for two days again. I managed to get him on fluids and an IV quickly, but he overtaxed himself."

Whatever Annabeth had planned to say in response she didn't get to. Will finally found the strength to open his eyes. He immediately sought out Kayla's. She held her hand up to stop Annabeth from speaking and quickly came over to Will. She grabbed one of his hands.

"Thank the gods, I was so worried." Will tried to sit up as Kayla spoke to him, but she held him back down. "Don't try to get up yet. You are still weak."

Will grabbed at his face removing the oxygen mask so he could speak. "I'm-I'm fine." He coughed out. "Nico?"

Kayla and Annabeth gained eye contact before Kayla answered. "Still hasn't woken up."

Will felt crestfallen. He just wanted his boyfriend to be awake. "So, it didn't work? I didn't heal him?"

"Will, you worked wonders on him. His condition has improved so much in the last two days. He's just not ready to wake up yet." Will tried to stand as Kayla explained.

He stumbled but recovered his footing. He leaned on the side of the bed for support.

"Well, it's time for him to," He forced out, finding it difficult to speak as his body was still heavy with sleep. He started to stumble when Kayla and Annabeth came on either side to support him. "No. I can do it on my own. I need to do this on my own."

Both girls slowly released him. Will stood on his own. He took another step forward and didn't stumble, so he continued to Nico's room. He pushed open the door, looking to his boyfriend. He looked a lot better. He was still hooked up to the oxygen mask and heart monitor which was beating a steady rhythm. He had a tight white bandage around his chest but was otherwise covered by the blanket. Hazel and Reyna were both in the room, sitting in chairs. They looked up as Will approached. Reyna gave up her seat to Will. He sat down in the chair next to Nico. He grabbed Nico's hand, trying to warm them. Having Nico's hand in his reassured Will. Everything felt right with the world again. He closed his eyes, allowing memories of Nico to wash over him.

A disturbance by the door pulled him out of his memories. Chiron entered with Jason and Percy. Jason and Percy appeared to be badgering him.

"-can we see him?" Jason asked.

"We know that's why you are coming in here." Percy continued. He stopped when he saw Annabeth, Will, and Kayla. "Will, are you okay?"

"Fine." He said shortly. "Nico is waking up today we've decided."

"Mr. Solace, you cannot control when Nico awakens-"

Will interrupted Chiron, which in retrospect was not the best idea, but he could not stop himself. "I have had it with things being out of my control. He is waking up today." Will looked expectantly at Chiron. "Now, what's wrong with him?"

Chiron closed his eyes, putting his hand to Nico's head. He was silent for a few minutes as if looking for something. He shook his head. "His mind is in turmoil. Something is keeping him from waking up. Whether it be fear or something else, I have no idea." His eyes opened. "Whatever it is, he isn't going to wake up without help." He put his hand on Will's shoulder. "I'm sorry. That's all I know."

"What about Clovis? He's helped Nico in the past with this kind of thing." Will questioned.

"That's when Nico was asleep, Will," Kayla said. "He is in a coma now."

"He's showing much more motor function and brain activity than typically depicted in a coma patient." Will allowed himself to hope.

"But-"

"What's the harm in doing it, Kayla? It's not going to hurt either of them."

Kayla threw her hands up in defeat. "Okay. We can call on Clovis. Percy?" She trailed off.

"Of course, I'll go get him." Percy agreed, immediately heading out of the room.

"Thank you." Will turned his head to see Jason taking in Nico. He had forgotten that Jason had not had the chance to see Nico yet. It must have been a shock for Jason, but as Will looked at his boyfriend, he noticed that Nico looked the best that he had in days. He turned to Kayla. "How are his injuries?"

"All his external injuries are completely healed, thanks to you, but he's still a little tender on the inside; the ribs are still mending. The lungs are also still healing as well. Considering how terrible his condition was, it's amazing that he is this healthy in just a week." Kayla listed.

Things were finally starting to look up. Nico was going to be okay. Will let out a breath that he had been holding for days.

Percy quickly returned, dragging a half-asleep Clovis behind him.

Clovis blinked his eyes as Will and took a beat before responding. "What do you need?" He yawned.

"Clovis, we need you to go into Nico's dreams again." Will requested. "We need you to get Nico out of the state he is in or figure out why he can't get out."

That shook Clovis out of his fatigued state. "But- but last time..." he trailed off.

Will remembered. Clovis had entered Nico's dream and had seen Tartarus. From his current reaction, Will could tell that he had been quite shaken by the experience.

"Clovis, please," Will pleaded. "I don't think we can wake him up without your help."

Clovis took a deep breath steeling himself. He closed his eyes before they slid open again. "Okay. Okay, I'll do it."

"Thank you." Will grasped Clovis's hand.

He stood from his seat, offering it to him. Clovis took another deep breath before putting his hand to Nico's head. His face became concentrated as he infiltrated the boy's mind.

"Okay, I'm in. What do you need me to do?" Clovis asked.

Annabeth stepped closer to Clovis. "Tell us what you see."

"I'm alone... I'm in the forest." He started narrating. His face screwed up. "Wait, Nico just ran past me. He looks- he looks scared." Jason and Will gained eye contact as Clovis spoke. "I'm following him- oh my gods." Clovis flinched back but maintained contact with Nico.

"What?" Annabeth asked. "What happened?"

"-Nico he just got thrown into a tree... he's talking... there is laughing- a person is coming out of the woods..." Will leaned forward eagerly. This could be it; this could prove it was Aaron. "I see- there's Drew in the outskirts- two, no three campers coming towards Nico." Clovis gasped.

He stayed quiet as if listening or watching. After a minute or two, his eyes flew open.

"What?" Annabeth demanded. "What did you see?"

Clovis gulped. "They started pushing Nico around- and punching him- and saying these terrible, terrible things-oh my gods- I didn't know anyone could be this terrible."

"Who, Clovis?" Will almost screamed.

Clovis looked at Will with haunted eyes. "Aaron. Aaron Stevenson. Drew. And two of Aaron's siblings."

Will felt a rush of relief as he looked to Annabeth. "Is that enough? Annabeth? Chiron?"

Annabeth's eyes were wide as Will spoke to her. She looked at Chiron who merely nodded his head. Annabeth looked straight into Will's eyes. "Yes, that is enough."

Will turned to Jason and Percy. "Go get him. Jason, Percy. Go get him."

"I'm coming too," Reyna asserted.

The boys looked to Chiron for guidance again. He nodded again. The trio turned to go out the door. Chiron beckoned to Annabeth, drawing her out of the room. Will, Kayla, Hazel, and Clovis were left with Nico. Will breathed loudly.

"Thank the gods, this is finally over." Kayla massaged her temples.

"Not yet. Nico's still in a coma." He reminded. He turned back to Clovis who was still looking blankly into the distance. "Clovis, how do you think we can get him out of it? What's it like in there?"

Clovis shook himself from his thoughts. "From what I could tell, Nico has trapped himself inside that memory. Only I don't think he knows it's a memory; he thinks it's real."

"But how do we get him out?" Kayla asked. "Because letting him do it in his own has had no success."

"I supposed we could insert someone into the dream. But it's risky. If the person is unable to get Nico out, they will be trapped inside the dream as well." Clovis warned.

Will didn't even hesitate. "I'll do it."

"Will-" Kayla said.

"No, don't tell me I can't, because I can." Will defended. "I can and will do it. I don't care about the consequences. I want to help Nico and free him from his nightmare. I will do it." He looked to Clovis. "How do I do it?"

"We are going to need you to take another nap," Clovis instructed.

Jason's POV:

Percy, Jason, and Reyna marched across Camp straight to the Ares cabin. Percy knocked on the door. Clarisse opened it, before scowling and immediately shutting it.

"Clarisse, please," Percy shouted through the wood. After a moment, it opened again.

"What do you want punk? I can tolerate you, but now you are crossing a line trying to come into my cabin."

"We got him," Jason simply stated.

She raised an eyebrow. "You got proof?"

"Enough for both Annabeth and Chiron." Clarisse uncrossed her arms, holding her hands up to Reyna's statement.

"Okay, I'll support you. What do you need?"

"We are going to take Aaron to the Big House to Chiron. He will decide what happens next." Jason informed.

"Well, Aaron isn't here. We can try the forge. I think he was working on a project there." Clarisse disappeared for a moment before she returned, strapping her sword to her side.

"Let's head there now before word gets out." Clarisse nodded in affirmation to Percy's proposal.

They clumped together as they headed to the forge. They found Calypso and Leo working together on a sword at the front of the workshop. Leo waved to Jason, acknowledging him. Jason went up and returned Leo's handshake, hug combo.

"Jason, my main man, I don't see you around these parts too often." Leo greeted him.

"Is Aaron in here?"

Leo made a face. "The kid who beat up Nico? Yeah, he's in the back. I didn't want to let him in, but technically I don't own the forge-"

"Thanks, Leo." Jason absently said, wanting to move in as soon as possible.

He made a gesture to Percy and Reyna to go around in case Aaron tried to run. They nodded, disappearing, as Clarisse and Jason entered the forge. Jason had a bad feeling about what was about to walk deeper into the forge and saw Aaron, with his back turned, hammering a sword. There was a vat hot coals to his left. He failed to hear Jason and Clarisse approach. Clarisse tapped him on the shoulder. He stopped mid-hammer and turned over his shoulder.

"Hey, why are you interrupting me? I had such a good-" he cut himself off when he saw Jason. Jason snaked his hand to his pocket, preparing to draw his sword if needed. He felt Leo's and Calypso's eyes watching them. "What's he doing here?"

"We are here to bring you in, Aaron," Jason said bluntly. "We have proof that you hurt Nico."

Aaron opened and closed his mouth like a gaping face before spluttering. "Now-it-its…it wasn't me."

"Did you lie to me, Aaron?" Clarisse's voice had a threatening tone. "Did I make a fool out of myself for defending you?"

"I-I-" Aaron's eyes looked wildly.

His eyes seized upon the vat of coals. Jason realized a moment too late what he was about to do.

"No!" He screamed, pulling Clarisse away as Aaron dumped the burning coals onto the ground. The coals barely missed both demigods, so neither of them was hurt, but it gave Aaron enough time to escape.

"Shit!" Clarisse cursed, as she and Jason both turned to follow him.

Leo tried to stop him, but Aaron pushed him to the ground, leaving the forge far behind. Where were Percy and Reyna? Jason put on some more speed, but Aaron appeared to be faster. Aaron looked behind to see how close they were. Suddenly, Reyna came out of nowhere in front of Aaron. Aaron, turning too late, went careening into her. The two demigods were tumbling on the ground. When they stopped, Aaron was to the side of Reyna. He quickly sprang up, to try to run again, but Jason and Clarisse had already caught up. Percy had run up from the back of the forge too.

"Aaron, stop. There's no point. We know it was you." Jason commanded.

"No-no it wasn't- it wasn't my fault." He screamed.

"Do not lie! You beat up di Angelo and lied about it. What is going on? Why are you acting like this?" Clarisse questioned, her anger exploding.

Jason moved quickly to mediate Clarisse's anger. "Please, Aaron, just come quietly. It will be so much better for you if you do."

"No! I won't come!" Aaron waved the sword in front of him. "You'll have to drag me."

"That can be arranged," Clarisse threatened.

Aaron's eyes went wide. Clarisse had moved quickly to arm herself and aimed a blow at Aaron. Aaron deflected it, pushing Clarisse back. Jason's hand plunged into his pocket, reaching for his sword. But Reyna grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"Don't." She said. "Clarisse can handle this. She needs to face Aaron."

"But she's going to hurt him or vice versa," Jason pointed out.

"We will jump in before that happens. But let Clarisse take care of this for now." Percy said.

Percy, Jason, and Reyna turned to watch the two siblings. Clarisse was screaming at Aaron and Aaron seemed to be struggling to hold up against his much more powerful, older sister. Aaron caught Clarisse off guard and swiped her feet out from under her. Jason winced as she crashed to the ground. Aaron brought his sword down, but Clarisse easily deflected it. She kicked Aaron's feet out from under him and stood up quickly. She kicked the blade out of his hand and put a restraining foot on his chest.

"It's over Aaron." She was breathing heavily. She looked over to Percy, Reyna, and Jason. "He's all yours."