Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or its characters. That all belongs to Rick Riordan.

New Horizons

AN: This chapter is a bit heavy with emotion. I had a little hard time writing it myself. Hope you enjoy nonetheless.

"Team 4, entering the right side." Percy said over his radio. He was quiet to not alert anyone of his team entering the compound. So far things were going smoothly. The other teams haven't alerted anyone of their presence as of yet.

They were approaching their first building that some intel said where there might be hostages.

"Swanson on point." Percy commanded. With a nod, Swanson was at the door. With a confirmation from everybody, Swanson slowly opened the door and entered. Percy was right behind the man, clearing the right side as Swanson cleared the left. Mitchum took up the rear of the team making sure no one from behind them saw them enter. "Martin and Michaels clear the stairs. Mitchum hold here and signal if someone is approaching. Swanson, You and I are taking the basement."

As the team moved to their locations, Percy senses went off. Something was wrong but he just didn't know what. Though he couldn't think too much about, he had a job to do. As Martin and Michaels moved to the top of the stairs, Swanson and Percy went to the basement door after the team cleared the main floor. With trepidation, both duos cleared their designated areas. Both found nothing.

"Alright, we move to the next building." They did just that. With the same tactic they found nothing. This stood out to the group.

As they regrouped in the second house they had to make a new plan.

"Next we move to this building. It seems it only has one floor but be on the lookout." Percy told the others. "So far the other teams haven't encountered anything. It seems as if there is no one here." This shocked everyone. Were they given bad info?

"I don't like this, Perce." Martin said. The others agreed.

"Me neither." Percy looked at his map. "All we can do is keep sweeping these houses to make sure."

With that the group moved to the new house. Percy continued to hear nothing suspicious over the coms. It was like this place was just abandoned. This worried the veteran more than there actually being people here. Why would they just up and leave?

The third building's layout was different. They didn't find anything out of place. Old papers littered the tables with drinks. There was even some food on the table.

"It is still warm." Percy heard Mitchum say. He was looking at the food. "It is like they just left right before we got here." That sent alarm bells ringing in Percy's ears. Did they know they were coming?

"All teams…" Percy started on his radio. "This is Jackson with team 4. Be on the lookout for anything suspicious. They could have been expe-" Whatever Percy was going to say was cut off as his team heard movement below them.

"What the hell?!" Michaels exclaimed.

"Are they under us?" Swanson whispered. They checked every room. They knew there was no basement. Right?

"Jackson? What were you saying? Over." Johnson's voice rang out over the coms. The Chief of the Platoon worried for his soldier.

"We hear something under us. Over." All Percy said. He heard others over the radio but paid them no mind. He was more worried about anything that could harm him and his men at the moment.

They continued to hear movement and was trying to find an entrance to the basement below. Until Martin lifted a rug, there a noticeable outline showed where the panels of the wood could be lifted up. With Mitchum and Swanson's help the wood was moved to show a ladder leading to a basement. There the team could see visible light illuminating the underground section. Though they couldn't tell what was down there and whoever went first wouldn't know anything that would hit them. They would be totally exposed.

"What do we do?" Swanson asked. Percy looked down there.

"I am not sur-" He was cut off.

"Help!" That was the sound of someone in trouble. That sent everyone in to alert mode.

"We have to get down there!" Martin exclaimed. Everyone agreed.

"Wait!" Percy said, stopping his best friend. "We don't know if it is a trap and I am not risking our lives." He truly wanted to help whoever was down there. But there was to many things that could go wrong.

The person continued to plead with them.

"Perce, We have to get down there!" Mitchum said. The others nodded.

"Fine." Percy told everyone on the radio what they found. It seems the other teams found nothing. They others going about trying to find any information that they could gather while Percy's team was trying to figure out how to help whoever was down there. "I will go."

"You sure?" The others asked.

"Yeah. I am the team lead. I should go." Percy said with confidence.

"No. Let me." Michaels said. Percy went to cut him off. "Like you said you are the team lead. Your job is more important. Let me go."

"Alright." Percy said.

"Though I am not going down without a fight." Michaels pulled out his handgun.

With that he began to descend into the depths of the basement.

Line Break

Percy could hear the doorbell ring throughout the house. The town home was small and wasn't the best shape. As Percy took in his surroundings he noted it wasn't in the best of neighborhoods either but at the sametime who would mess with an aging woman. Especially a grieving one.

"Percy Jackson!" An excited voice came from the other side of the old glass door. The voice belonged to an older dark skinned woman, whose hair was slowly greying. Though Percy knew she could move as quickly as Hermes if she needed to.

"Hey Ms. Martin." Percy smiled at the older woman. She was older than his own mom but at times she acted younger.

"Oh please, You know not to call me that! Makes me feel old!" The woman opened the glass door to allow him in. "It's Maria for you."

"Yes, ma'am." He said politely, hugging the older woman. She gripped him tightly. Even with the smiles he could still see the pain in her eyes. The loss, he has seen it in other family members. He hates that look.

"How are you doing, Hun?" Maria lead the demigod to the small living room. Percy looked around with saddened eyes. He can still hear the laughter and joy in the comfy room. Still remember seeing the smiling faces and little kids running around during Sammy's 37th birthday party.

"I'm...doing better." He said. She didn't miss the pain in his voice. She sat down next to him resting her spotted hands on his.

"I know." She said. Percy looked to where the TV was and looked at the pictures on the walls around it. He could see the picture of Sammy in his naval uniform on the left of the TV and a picture of another man on the right of the TV. Sammy's father. "It never is easy but...we have to keep living."

"Ms. Maria, I'm sor-" She cut him off with a look.

"Don't say those words!" Percy looked at her stunned. "It wasn't your fault. He knew the risks. He knew what could have happened. Just like his father." She too looked at the pictures on the side of the TV. "The last thing he would want from you was to be sorry for yourself." She looked Percy in the eyes. His heart ached at seeing the pained expression she had.

"I can't stop thinking about that day though. I could have done something different? Maybe more would have survived!" Percy let out. The guilt he had was immense.

"You have to stop thinking like that." The woman sternly said. She has heard it all before. "There was nothing you could have done." Percy looked at the woman. How could she say that about her own son?

"When I lost Jimmy, I was broken. I wanted to do nothing but die to somehow join him." She looked at the framed picture of the man on the right. "I never loved a man like him. He saved me over and over again. He was my anchor. He was a great father as well." Maria took a deep breath. Voice filled with emotion. "He loved helping others. Whenever someone needed help around the neighborhood he would be there. When…" She took a shaky breath. "...when the attacks happened, he was off duty but he knew he couldn't just sit around and watch." She closed her eyes tightly, holding in the tears. "He kissed me and told me and the kids he loved us and hopped in his truck and drove to join the fray. We waited and waited all day. He never returned."

Percy knew about Sammy's dad. A firefighter who sadly was one of many to lose their lives in the terror attacks. Though he never met the man he hoped for the best for that hero. Many would call Percy a hero, being a demigod and saving the world, but he wasn't a hero. The ones who willingly sacrificed their lives for others were the true heroes.

"When they came to my house that night to deliver the news, I cried and screamed all night long." She wiped her eyes. "I wanted to die. I wanted to leave everything and be with him but when I looked at my kids I knew I had to be strong." She looked deep into Percy's eyes. "No matter how tough it gets, no matter how weak you feel, you have to keep moving. You have to live. If not for yourself, for others in your life that depend on you." Percy thought of his family, his friends still active and out of the military, mrs. O'Leary, and Enora. He needed to talk with her. He needed to hold her. "When it's your time to go, it is your time to go. Something I have come to terms with."

"I don't know what to say." Maria smiled at him.

"I know." Maria stood up and moved to one of the book cases against the wall. At the top of the bookshelf he saw two memorial flags. One had a small picture of Sammy on the frame, the other with his father. Maria came back with a little shadow box. "Sammy cared for you like a brother. Everytime he came home, he would talk about you." She held out the box to him. It had a picture of Sammy in the middle with some ribbons he earned while deployed and his dog tags. "I see the same in your eyes. I see how much you cared about him. He loved his sisters but there was just a connection both of you had that he couldn't have with them." She put the shadow box in Percy's hands. "Have this."

"Ms. Maria, I-" She shut him up with a look only something his own mom could do.

"Take it. If not for me…" She smiled at him. "...for him." She looked at the picture in the box. "He would want you to have it."

"Thank you Ms.-" He paused at the look he received. "Maria." She smiled at him.

"Now…"She wiped her eyes. "Tell me some stories from deployment. Something to lighten the mood."

"Yes, ma'am." Percy looked at the box and smirked at the woman. "This one time when we were in Afghanistan, this street vendor was trying his hardest to get Sammy to buy these rugs but the man didn't speak any english…"

Maria smiled as Percy continued the story.

Line Break

Percy waited with baited breath for something to happen. Scared for Micheals' life.

"Guys!" Came the frantic voice of the veteran. "Get your asses down here!"

Percy wasted no time to get down the ladder. But nothing could compare to what he was about to witness. Once he reached the bottom he nearly vomited his dinner. The smell was that of death.

Horror was the only expression that was seen on his face. Horror at all the blood and bodies that was around the basement though it was much more like a small cave. There was some bodies on the walls. Hanging there. From the looks of it they were tortured before being executed. There were cages where more bodies were. Flies were everywhere. Some bodies looked fresh, some not so much. Percy couldn't move though, because the thing that horrified him the most had him like one of Medusa's victims.

All the bodies had the uniforms of Marines. All of them were the missing soldiers and all of them were dead. In painful ways.

"What the-" Whoever was speaking was cut off as another was puking his guts out. Percy turned to the rest of his team. All shared the same expression. Shock, horror, and anger. Anger at whoever did this.

"Guys!" Michaels said. He was currently lifting up a soldier who didn't look so good. "Anyone got water?!"

Swanson rushed to them. Helping the struggling soldier. He was severely dehydrated and by the looks of it, on deaths door. Percy was looking at the other soldiers. He hated seing the lifeless eyes of the soldiers but he needed to check for others that may be alive. As a he was looking for any movement, any sign of life in the cages, he stopped.

He saw shallow breaths from a soldier. He got closer and notice it was a female soldier. It was rare but he has seen some on the frontlines. He stepped closer, creeping slowly. Scared of what he might find and stopped. For the second time that night, his breath left him. He knows that glossy black hair, that tanned skin, and that regal look.

"Reyna!" The demigod shouted. The others looked towards their team lead. Percy paid them no mind as he got to his knees to check on the demigoddess. "Come on! Wake up!" He frantically shook her. He knew if she went to sleep, she might never wake up.

"P-Percy?" Her voice sounded tired and full of pain. Her dark eyes met his sea green. "Percy…"

"Shhh! I got you!" He held her close to him. She felt weak. He hasn't seen her in years but that meant nothing. He cared for all his friends. "MITCHUM!" He yelled out. "Get on the radio! Tell the others what we found!"

"P-Percy.." The former praetor looked at him. She reached up with a shaking hand to grab his face to get his attention. "...it.."

"Hold on Reyna!" He noticed Michaels and Swanson helping the other solder that was calling out for them. Mitchum was on his radio and Sammy was coming over to Percy. "We got you now!"

"Perce, what do we need?" The dark skinned man asked his friend.

"Get some water she-"

"Percy!" Reyna said with a stronger voice. "Listen!" Percy stopped and moved his ear to closer to the demigoddess. "It is a trap!"

It all clicked. They knew they were coming.

With that all hell broke loose as mortar fire shook the small cave they were in.

Line Break

Percy drove to the closest flower shop. His mind was on autopilot as he weaved through the traffic. He felt sorry for Maria but knew the woman didn't want no pity. It was now past 5pm. He spent the whole day with the older woman, exchanging stories. Once he got a text from Enora he knew he had to leave.

After a hug and a promise to be back another time he was off. He truly did feel bad. He felt as if he was distancing himself from the woman he loved the past few weeks. Though he really didn't know how to talk about it all with her. Though after talking with the older woman, he knew he needed to talk with her. He needed to hold her close. He needed to make sure she wouldn't end up leaving as well.

He parked in an open spot on the side of the road. He paid the meter for an hour, giving him plenty of time to walk to the little shop and make a good selection. He entered and noticed it was pretty empty except for the employee behind the desk. He walked to where the more expensive flowers were and took a glance around. There were so many colors and types, he just didn't know which ones to get.

"You know when I have a fight with my partner I prefer a much more physical gift." The seductive voice shocked Percy out of his musings.

"What the?!" He will admit he never heard her approach. When he looked to his left he just groaned. "Aphrodite."

"How do you guess?" She asked with a smirk. Her features change to resemble Enora. Though Aphrodite's features were softer than the woman he loved.

"What are you doing here?" He whispered, yelled at the goddess. Not to arouse suspicion from the employee.

"Was bored and saw you standing here and thought I would join you." She just smirked at him. Of course it was his luck. In one day he came face to face with two gods and received a letter from another. "Though just what are you doing in this shop?" She looked around in slight disinterest. "Wouldn't think you would be the romantic type." That was a lie and he knew it. Aphrodite would know everything about love and just how romantic he could be.

"If you must know." Percy stood tall and continued to look at the assorted flowers. "I feel bad about pushing my girlfriend away the last few weeks and I thought flowers is a way to say thank you."

"Hmm." She just raised an eyebrow at him. "For her?" There it was again. First his dad and now Aphrodite. When both discussed his girlfriend it was like they knew her and showed disinterest, in Aphrodite's case it was more of jealousy. Though both gods never even met the woman. Percy didn't question it but he did side eye the goddess next to him. "Get the tulips and roses."

"Oh thank yo-" He turned to the goddess only for her to be gone. The smell of expensive perfume wafting through the air. "I always hated when they did that."

With that he paid for the flowers and cautiously put them in the compartment under his bike seat.

Line Break

When Percy and his team finally were able to get back up top, it was a warzone. He could hear yelling over the comms, mortar fire, and gunfire. Hell he could see tracer rounds lighting up the sky. It reminded him of the 4th of July.

"Johnson! This is Jackson! What is the command? Over." Percy looked over his team. They positioned Reyna and the only other soldier that was alive on the ground. They were stable for now.

"Jackson! Thank God!" Johnson's voice said over the radio. "We are being hammered pretty hard out here but everyone is accounted for." Percy breathed a sigh of relief. "The bastards on the hill overlooking the compound. They got some heavy equipment. They knew we were coming. But they are not focusing on your team's position." Percy heard the Chief ordering another soldier to do something. "Do you believe your team can flank? Over."

That was a hell of a task. They didn't know how many fighters they might be going against. They didn't know what type of weapons they had or even their exact positioning. They could see where the gunfire was coming from but that didn't exactly tell just where they all were. Though as Percy looked over his team, all with determined faces, he knew they could pull anything off.

"We can do it. Over." He looked over the two marines though and paused. He needed someone to watch them. "Johnson, I have two marines here. One is a close friend of mine. I can't leave them alone. Over."

"We are sending McCormick and Collins. Over." Percy knew those two. Both were good field medics. He looked over his team.

"Team 4, Moving out. Over."

Line Break

Percy parked in the garage. Grabbing the shadow box, flowers, and a bottle of wine from the compartment. He quickly covered the bike with the tarp. He slowly made his way to his condo. He passed the person manning the front desk of the building. He smiled at the older man and made it to the elevator. He inhaled as the newer elavorter ascended.

He would be lying if he said he wasn't nervous. He hated that he pushed her away in his depressed state. He wanted to kick himself in the ass. His mother would chew him out.

He opened the door to his home, knowing Enora left it unlocked for him. When he entered he smiled at the sight before him. Enora was on the couch with Mrs. O'Leary watching some movie starring Gerard Butler. He set the shadow box and wine down at the kitchen counter. The sound caused both his girls to turn and look at him. Enora's face lit up as Mrs. O'Leary rushed to him.

"Sorry I'm late."

Line Break

The fighters had no idea of team 4 approaching them from the left. They were too focused on the abandoned compound where the SEALs were. They kept laying down fire, not letting up. They wanted to make sure the American troops did not make it home. Though Percy and his team had a different thought process.

"Swanson take out the gunner." Percy pointed to where a mounted .50 cal was. "As soon as he fires, light the rest of them up."

With all of them in the best position that would get the jump on them, they were ready. Ready to save their comrades. Ready to die for their country if need be. Luckily for them, the insurgent group was small in size though it was larger than their team. Percy held up his fingers, counting down for Swanson to take the shot. As soon he hit zero, a bullet ripped through the gunner's head.

The insurgent group had no time to react as more bullets tore through the sky. Percy's team opened fire on anything that moved. Percy reloaded his rifle as they hid behind the boulders. Shielding them from the gunfire.

"This isn't how I usually like to spend my Saturday nights!" Mitchum jokes over the gunfire. "Though I'm glad it's with you boys."

"Can't say I disagree!" Michaels yelled out. Unloading into the insurgents.

Percy just shook his head. Even after what they witnessed in that basement, even after being ambushed, and even after facing death right in the face. His brothers still could make jokes.

Line Break

"What took so long?" Enora asked, hugging the son of Poseidon. He passionately kissed her. "Feeling better?"

"I went to see Sammy, talked with my dad, and went to visit Sammy's mom." Enora smiled. Whatever was said between them, she could see it helped her love. "After some words with them I think I am starting to feel better."

"That is great." She was rubbing the back of his neck now. Specifically his wild and untamed hair in the back. She stared into his eyes. She could still see the pain in them but could also see he is feeling better. He still had a road of healing ahead of him, both emotional and physical. "I am glad."

Line Break

With their distraction the other teams were pushing now. The insurgents were being pushed back. Many dying before they could even get a chance of getting away. The SEAL teams continued pushing them back. Some insurgents were able to run away and others were forced to surrender.

"Whoo!" Some shouted at seeing the fleeing fighters. Though that was short lived as all noticed that even more approaching. Gravel was kicked up as trucks with mounted .50 cals where gunning it towards the soldiers.

"Haha!" A surrendering insurgent laughed. It took every cell in Percy's body not to punch the man.

The insurgents were approaching and fast. The SEALs had no time to get away to safety.

"SEAL team 2 this is Hummingbird 2-1." A voice broke out over Johnson's radio. "We have visual on the approaching fighters, lighting them up now."

With that Percy saw three approaching Little bird helicopters mounted with guns firing at the approaching vehicles. The fighters never had a chance over the technological advantage the SEALs had.

"HOLY SHIT!" Some shouted at the explosions from the missiles from the helicopters after their first fly by. The faces of the surrendering insurgents fell.

"Thank you, Hummingbird 2-1." Johnson said over the radio. The Chief of the unit looked at Percy and nodded. "You did good kid." Percy just smiled at the man. Though he quickly regained his bearings and rushed back to the house to make sure Reyna was okay. The others watched the spectacle in front of them. "You did good kid."

After that mission, Percy would be promoted for his actions and Johnson would then go to officer school to become the 2nd officer for their unit. Percy was just glad Reyna and the other Marine would make a full recovery though not without a lot of TLC.

Line Break

"I am sorry." That caused the brunette to pause at the words she just heard.

"What?" The amazonian-like woman just questioned.

"I am sorry." Percy said again. "I am sorry for pushing you away. I am sorry for not-" Percy was interrupted by a kiss from the woman.

"Shut up." She said before kissing him again. "I don't want to hear another apology. You were hurt in a way I just couldn't understand and I get that. But now that you are starting to feel better, I am just happy for you."

"But I-" She shushed him with a finger to his lips. Her stormy eyes looked at him.

"If you say sorry one more time, I promise you will be sleeping on the couch." Mrs. O'Leary wined, that was where she slept afterall. "Mrs. O'Leary will be sleeping with me." The hound just barked as if she was agreeing.

"You be quiet." Percy said over Enora's shoulder, he swore the hellhound smirked at him. "And you…" Percy kissed her again. "...are one scary lady when you want to be."

"Good." She smiled. "Now what did you bring?"

"Well I got some flowers as an apology…" He noticed the dark look she gave him. "...But they are now a gift for the woman I love." She nodded at that. "I also got some wine, maybe we can drink a bit, talk some…" Percy set the flowers down. "And a shadow box from Maria, she wanted me to have it...for Sammy."

"That is...nice." Enora wasn't sure what to say. Knowing that was still a sore topic.

"Yeah." Percy smirked at her. Her hand was rubbing his chest without her realizing. It was to comfort the man. "Though I was thinking we skip the wine."

"What about dinner?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Hmm." He picked the woman up with ease causing her to squeal. She laughed as she wrapped her legs around the man. "I was thinking, why have that when I have you."

Enora only laughed as she was carried to the bedroom by a chuckling Percy. Mrs. O'Leary only pouted at being alone. Though was happy her human was feeling better.

Though Mrs. O'Leary was happy for her human, the neighbors weren't pleased at all. The whole floor would hear both lovers that night.

Line Break

Percy woke up hours later. He rubbed his eyes and sat up, stretching as he did. He sat at the end of the bed looking at the window that showed the New York Skyline. He loved the view.

The sun was rising. He looked at his alarm clock on the side table and read 6:40 am. He only had 4 hours of sleep though he felt well rested. He looked to his right and smiled. As he did Enora's eyes opened. The stormy blue eyes looked at sea green. Both smiled at each other with loving looks. Percy looked back at the rising sun.

"I thought I wore you out." The woman slyly said.

"As if." Percy shot back. "I was the one to make you tap first." She just smirked, sitting up. He turned back to her, noticing she didn't care about covering her chest. He didn't know what view he liked best. The skyline or the one in front of him.

"That is what you think, old man." She started stroking his back. He hissed at the slight stinging. His back is still red with scratches all down it. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it." He gave her his signature smirk. "I don't mind a little pain."

"Whatever you say." She tapped his back causing him pain. She only laughed at his pained expression. "I am going to take a shower. Want to join?"

"I will in a minute." She kissed him on the lips. Percy smiled into the kiss.

"I will get it started." She got out of the bed and she didn't have to look back to know that Percy was watching her.

Percy slapped her butt as she got up causing her to yelp. He laughed watching her move to the bathroom. He looked back at the horizon line and smiled. He had so much to do. His smile dropped a bit. His thoughts running rampant. With a sigh he stood, stretching and joined his girlfriend in the shower.

Though for now he was just going to live in the moment.

AN: So the story is moving and next chapter we will be getting into the reunion. This chapter was a little hard to write I will admit. Not due to writers block but more because of what I was writing about. It is never easy writing something that happens and happens a lot but I feel like it is important to teach a lesson.

Also I just wanted to say thank you for all the love this story is getting and I am glad so many of y'all enjoy it. I wonder if anyone may be getting some hints of who Enora is. Because at this point there has been some hints that she defiently isn't human. Though more on that later. I hope you enjoyed and until next time :)