Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 12: Hades Does Have A Heart (Who Knew?)

Hades blinked a couple of times before he waved off his skeleton warriors, and he stood before shrinking to normal size (although he still towered over Leo), and his surprised expression returned to one of business and intimidation.

"How do you know of my children?" Hades questioned.

Leo made a conscious effort to clear his mind, not wanting those words to conjure up images of fighting on the battlefield with Nico and staring up at the murky brown sky every night, talking about the stars and the good days before Gaea destroyed the world.

He stood as tall as he could under the frightening glare of Hades, and he stated, "I met them at the Lotus Hotel And Casino."

Hades's stare became more calculating than scary, and he asked, "Why do you tell me this?"

"Because I want to protect them."

That seemed to surprise Hades, but he hid it well.

"They are the children of the god of the underworld. Most people would kill them, if only because they were afraid of them. Why would you want to protect them?" Hades responded, and Leo couldn't help but notice the barely concealed fear and anger that snuck its way into Hades's tone when he said most people would kill the Di Angelos if they discovered them.

"Because I don't care whose children they are. They are my friends," Leo said, resolutely. "Besides, I'm not afraid of them, and I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not afraid of you either, sir."

Leo was afraid he might actually make Hades faint with shock this time, but then, curiosity took over his astonishment.

"And why is that?" Hades wondered.

"I just don't see why I should be more afraid of you than Zeus or Hera or any of the other gods," Leo said, truthfully. "Besides, if we were facing Zeus, Percy would be a pile of ashes on the floor. You may be dramatic, but you were looking to scare him, not hurt him. At least not yet."

Hades cocked his head to the side before rage overwhelmed his features.

"I do intend to hurt him-"

"But not yet. I think you suspect that Percy wasn't the one who stole your helm, especially after that show back there. I also think you suspect he wasn't the one to take the bolt," Leo answered.

Hades glared, and to his credit, Leo didn't flinch.

"Oh? And if he didn't take the bolt, who did?"

"Well, Percy received the backpack from Ares, and when we got it, it had nothing but a few packages of Oreos and some clothes. Based on that information, who do you think?"

Hades was silent for several moments before he finally stated, "You're telling the truth."

"Yes, and I also know that Percy will find a way to get your helm back from Ares. I just hope he doesn't get killed in the process," Leo muttered the last sentence.

Hades shrugged. "I can't believe in saying this, but if what you say is true and he will bring my helm back to me, you and me both."

Leo nodded. "Thank you for believing me, Lord Hades."

"Don't thank me. I can read your mind," Hades pointed out as he returned to full size and sat on his throne once again.

"That's creepy," Leo replied before wincing.

Yeah, and Percy is the one who doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut, Leo chastised himself.

Hades smirked. "Why do you think I do it?"

Leo blinked, owlishly. "Wow. That was good."

Who knew Hades had a sense of humor?

Hades allowed his smirk to disappear as his expression became serious once more.

"Now… you said you wish to protect my children," Hades recalled.

"Yes, and I only ask one thing of you," Leo told him.

Hades raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be?" he spat, angrily. "Protection? Riches?"

"No," Leo told him. "I gave Bianca a device she can use to send a distress signal to me if they ever need help, but if they are ever in danger and cannot contact me, I want you to tell me."

Hades leaned back. He didn't look surprised, per se. More… a look of acceptance, like he was accepting the fact that this demigod was full of surprises. Not only that, but dare Leo say it, he looked almost… impressed.

"That can be arranged," Hades agreed. "Now, until Percy Jackson returns my helm to me, you are still my prisoner. There is a room down the corridor where you will be staying until my helm is returned, if it is returned at all."

Leo nodded. "Yes, sir, and Percy's mother?" he nodded towards the woman, still frozen in a golden light.

Hades clicked his fingers, and the light faded, unfreezing Sally Jackson, who promptly fell to the floor, surprised by her sudden ability to move.

"What?" Sally muttered. "What happened?"

Leo knelt beside her and slung one of her arms over his shoulder, helping her stand.

"I'll explain everything, but first, I think Hades wants us out of his throne room," Leo pointed out, and he could've sworn he saw Hades stifle a laugh as he helped Sally limp down the hall, her body still stiff and weak from being frozen like a statue for over a month.

Leo opened the door Hades had mentioned and helped Sally over to the bed, stepping back to give her some space.

Sally glanced up. "Where's Percy? Are you one of Hades's servants or something?" she inquired, a little sadly, probably due to the fact that the thought of an eleven year old being a servant to the god of the underworld would make anyone a little depressed.

Leo shook his head. "No. I'm one of Percy's friends."

"Percy?" Sally exclaimed. "Is he all right?"

Leo shrugged. "When he left the Underworld, he was."

Sally frowned. "Why was he in the Underworld?"

Leo chuckled. "I guess that means it's story time," he said, making Sally laugh. "I'm Leo Valdez."

"Sally Jackson," Sally introduced, and they shook hands before Leo pulled up a chair from the corner of the room to sit across from her.

"Well, I first met Percy at the home of Medusa…"

After Leo completed the story, Sally sat there in silence for almost an entire minute before she replied:

"Well, thank you for helping my son," she told him, her voice ringing with gratitude.

Leo smiled. "It was my pleasure. I only knew Percy for a week, but he's a great friend, and so are Annabeth and Grover."

Sally nodded. "My Percy is as loyal as they come. It'll be the death of him one day."

(Sally said this as a joke, but she didn't know how right she was.)

Leo chased away that dark thought and continued listening to the kind woman.

"While I haven't met Annabeth and Grover, they sound great," Sally continued.

Leo nodded. "They are."

"So do you think we'll get out of here?" Sally asked after a moment of quiet.

Leo nodded. "I know we will. Hades took us because he thought Percy took his helm of darkness, but like I mentioned, it was actually Ares. Percy is tough. He'll find a way to get it back and return it to Hades. After Hades has his helm back, he won't have a reason to keep us here anymore."

"You never know, Valdez. I might keep you around to be my court jester."

Leo and Sally jumped and spun around to face Hades, who had appeared in the doorway.

Leo shook his head. "Again with the sense of humor! Today is just full of surprises."

"That, we can agree on," Hades commented. "Anyway, you are free to go. Sally Jackson, you will be returned to your apartment in New York, and Leo will be appear on Half Blood Hill."

"And Percy?" Sally questioned, tentatively, concern coloring her voice.

"He returned my helm to me and is on his way to return the Master Bolt to my brother," Hades answered. "After that, I suspect he will return to your apartment to make sure you are safe, and then, he will likely go to Camp Half Blood."

Sally nodded. "Thank, Lord Hades," she said before Hades waved his hand, and Sally disappeared in a flash of light.

"Valdez," Hades stated. "You will watch over my children?"

Leo nodded. "Of course."

Hades did not speak, but his eyes did express gratitude. It was concealed behind a mask of indifference, and anyone else would have missed it, but Leo wasn't just anyone.

Hades waved his hand, and the last thought Leo had before he vanished in a flash of light was:

Hades does have a heart. Who knew?

Leo blinked his eyes open, and he immediately clenched them shut when bright sunlight invaded his eyes. His hands flew up to cover his face and block out the blinding light as he muttered, "Oh, why? Why?"

After a few moments and Leo was sure the sun wouldn't blind him again, he opened his eyes, and he found himself lying on the ground at the base of Half Blood Hill. He could see Thalia's tree at the crest of the hill, and he pushed himself to his feet, beginning to climb the steep, grassy trek to the top.

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't excited to see Camp Half Blood again. He wondered what it would be like, not weathered by war or tragedy.

Looks like I'm about to find out, Leo thought before he stepped onto the top of the hill and stared down at the valley, at Camp, at his home.

Younger campers raced across the ground, playing some game that was just for them, and some older campers smacked a volleyball back and forth over the net. Girls gossiped; guys shoved each other around in a playful manner; campers were practicing sword fighting. It painted a picture of happiness and fun, and even though demigods were in some kind of danger ninety-five percent of their lives, they looked almost like regular kids, if you ignored the weapons and the climbing wall with actual lava (obviously).

All in all, it looked nothing like the camp Leo knew. The camp he remembered was full of campers with sad expressions, eyes that had seen too much, and scars on their skin. It was a place that had come back from war, not the fun summer camp it was now.

Leo crossed the barrier, and he started to head towards the Big House, not entirely sure what to do now. The first time around, he crashed into the lake and was claimed a few seconds later before receiving a tour from Will Solace. Something told him that wouldn't happen this time.

"Stoll, I'm going to kill you!"

Leo barely had time to turn around before he was tackled by a blur of red and brown, and he raised his hands in a 'I mean no harm' gesture, barely stopping the girl from hitting him.

"You're not Travis," she realized.

"Yeah, no kidding," Leo mumbled as Clarisse La Ru got off of him, and once she was no longer pinning him, he stood as well and dusted himself off. "You mind me asking who Travis is and why you were looking to tackle him?"

Clarisse studied him before she spoke, "I don't recognize you."

"Yeah, new camper," Leo answered.

"There wasn't an announcement," Clarisse pointed out, suspiciously.

"That's because I just walked over the hill," Leo told her. "Would you mind telling me where I go or who I'm supposed to talk to?"

Clarisse blinked, obviously having no idea what to make of him, before she pointed to the Big House, and Leo nodded, calling a thanks over his shoulder, as he headed for the building.

"Do you think Hades will return Leo and Percy's mom now that Percy returned his helm?" he heard Annabeth asking.

"To be perfectly honest, I don't know," Chiron admitted.

Leo smiled to himself before he rounded the corner. "Oh, I think he will."

Annabeth, Grover, and Chiron whirled around, and for a moment, nobody moved.

"Leo!" Grover bleated in excitement. "You're okay!"

Leo nodded. "Yep, and Hades returned Sally Jackson to her apartment, as well. Percy will probably check on her before coming back to camp," he informed them.

"Ah, you must be Mr. Valdez," Chiron stated.

"And you are?" Leo inquired, pretending to be oblivious.

"Chiron, Camp Activities Director," he replied.

Leo shook his head. "Chiron? Like the teacher of heroes?" Leo wondered.

"The very same," Chiron clarified. "Annabeth and Grover tell me you already know about the gods and who your parent is."

Leo nodded. "Yeah, I met a demigod a few years ago who explained it to me," Leo said, which wasn't entirely a lie. He did meet Will Solace a few years ago, and the son of Apollo had told him all about the Greek gods and the monsters and the craziness that was Leo's life. "As for my dad, he talked to me in a dream once." Once again, not entirely a lie.

Chiron nodded, slowly, seeming to think this over. "Interesting," he finally settled on. "Well, I'm afraid you'll have to stay in Cabin 11 until your father officially claims you."

Leo responded, "Cabin 11?"

"Oh, the cabin for Hermes. It's where all the unclaimed demigods stay," Annabeth told him. "You spoke to their head councilor, Luke."

"Right! Well, he seemed like a pretty cool guy," Leo said.

Yeah, he seems like a pretty cool guy. Just wait until he's trying to kill Percy with a scorpion and starts the next Titan War.

"I'll take you to meet them," Annabeth offered, and Leo followed her towards the cabins, where the familiar buildings stood in an omega shape, but it made Leo do a double take when he realized there were noticeably less cabins than in the future. It would be four years before the minor gods and Hades would receive cabins, and that just seemed foreign to Leo after seeing the second wing of cabins every day for six months.

(Before they were destroyed by Gaea.)

Leo shook his head. No. Not the time, brain. We are not going down that dark path right now.

"Here we are," Annabeth announced as they stopped in front of a door with chipped red paint and Hermes's staff emblazoned just above eye level on the wood.

Annabeth smiled at Leo (probably detecting his nervousness)… and then, she knocked.