XIX

WILL

Will couldn't shake the idea that something was wrong. He could see it on Bianca's expression when she had seen the picture frame, on how Nico had acted so strangely about it and how those siblings had looked into each other as if some unspoken message had passed between the two. And Will was having this strange gut feeling that whatever that message was, he wouldn't like it. Sure. Bianca hated the Hades out of him, but was that all? Or was there something more to it? He badly wanted to ask Nico about it but he never came back yesterday after he had left and Will hadn't seen Nico even today yet.

"You've been staring far too long on that chart. Are you having a hard time coming up with a prognosis on that patient, doctor?"

Will turned his head to the side and saw his fellow doctor and friend, Dr. Kayla Knowles leaning on the counter as she looked up at him.

Will sighed. "It's nothing, just spacing out."

Kayla nodded. "Yes, spacing out in the Nico di Angelo universe."

Some doctors and nurses, including Lou, snickered.

"Oh Shut it." Will glared at them all. He could swear that his ears were beet red. He closed the chart. "Nurse Lou, please update the lab if the blood work of Ms. Portman is out. I need to see it. Stat."

"You got it, Doc," Lou said.

Will turned around and walked away. Kayla followed him.

"So I was right, wasn't I? Thinking of lover boy di Angelo?" Kayla grinned and nudged him with her elbow.

"Knock it off, Knowles," Will said staring ahead.

Kayla pouted. "Of all the relationships you had, you never talked about Nico and I'm starting to think that you forgot that you still have your, you know, a best friend here."

Will faced her. "How could I forget my best friend here if I always see you every day. Besides. . ." Will sighed combing his blond hair with his hand. "Let's just say that Nico was an extremely private person that he doesn't want people gossiping about his relationship."

"Well, it couldn't be helped. He's always here to walk you home, which was very sweet of him. Your colleagues could see that so it couldn't be helped if they talked about it. Besides. . ." Kayla's grin became wider like a Cheshire cat. "I've never seen you distracted at work because of someone."

Will did not answer, instead, he looked ahead. He froze. Nico di Angelo disappeared in the corner. The death angel hadn't noticed him.

Kayla nudged him again. "Someone here got it pretty bad huh."

"Nico. . ." Will absentmindedly called.

Kayla frowned at him. "Huh? Nico is here?"

He ignored her. "Nico!" He called a little bit louder and ran after the death angel.

"Hey!" Kayla called after him but did not attempt to follow him. She scratched her head in confusion. "Why would Nico be in the ICU? Is he going to visit someone? But then, it's not yet visiting hours. . ." She turned around, still baffled but she walked away.

Will turned into the corner and found Nico standing there as if waiting for him. Will walked towards him.

"Hi" Nico greeted.

"What happened? Is Bianca against us? Mad at us? I know she already hates me but-"

Nico put his index finger on Will's lips silencing him. "You talk too much. Don't worry about it. I've already fixed it."

Will swatted Nico's hand away. "Fixed it? How? Are you sure everything's okay? Because I've felt like there's something more-"

This time Nico silenced him with a kiss.

Nico pulled away. "Gods, Solace. Did I mention that you talk too much and worry too much? Everything's okay now and there's nothing to worry about."

Will blinked. He shook his head to snap out from daze. "I was just... afraid that you'll be gone. . . and I won't even know it. ."

"And where would I go?" Nico raised an eyebrow.

"I don't know," Will mumbled then he pulled Nico into a hug. "I love you."

"Yeah. . ."

Will frowned and pulled away. He looked at Nico. "Is that the only thing you're gonna tell me? Yeah?"

"Just remember Will, that in this world, you are the most important person to me now."

Will was going to speak when his phone vibrated in his lab coat's pocket. He fished his phone out and answered it. "Hello? Dr. Solace speaking"

Will's eyes widened a bit. "Really? Okay, I'll be there." He hung up and spoke to Nico. "I have to go. Austin is awake."

Nico nodded. "Go. See you later."

Will ran. Thankfully, he was already at the ICU ward so he reached his destination quickly. When he reached Austin's room, there's already a nurse there.

He went to Austin's side. Austin's eyes were barely open, still in a daze.

"Hey, buddy," Will said to Austin.

Austin stared at Will. Then his eyes opened wider,

"Can you hear me Austin? Blink your eyes if you hear me." Will said.

Slowly, Austin blinked his eyes.

"Good job, buddy." Will smiled. Then he held Austin's hand, the one without IV tube.

"Now, Austin. I want you to squeeze my hand. Can you do it?" Will said again.

Austin obliged, he squeezed Will's hand. The blond doctor was surprised at how strong his grip was, for someone who had just woken up from surgery. Will took it as a good sign.

Dr. Alistair came and checked Austin's pupils and Austin didn't let go of Will's hand.

Will turned to the nurse. "Now that he's conscious, attached the analgesia pump."

The nurse nodded.

Austin squeezed Will's hand to get the doctor's attention. He turned his head at Austin.

"He was saying something." Dr. Alistair said.

Will and Dr. Alistair leaned forward a little bit so they could hear Austin.

"Lyra. . ." Austin whispered.

Dr. Alistair glanced questioningly at Will. "Who's Lyra?"

Then Will remembered what Percy had told him a while back. Lyra was Austin's girlfriend who had gotten abducted by the syndicate and Austin had no idea about it.

"His girlfriend," Will answered then focused his attention to Austin. "Austin, Lyra is fine. She's safe. All you need to do at this moment is to rest and heal. Okay? You can see your girlfriend again when you regain your strength. Do you understand me?"

Austin nodded then he let go of Will's hand.

"How much blood came out?" Will asked Dr. Alistair.

Dr. Alistair held out the catheter attached to Austin."20 cc per hour but it's decreasing. I don't think there's bleeding anymore."

Will nodded and smiled. Soon, the two doctors headed out of the ICU.

"It's a good sign that Austin was able to talk immediately after waking up." Dr. Alistair said as they walked through the hallway.

"Yeah, and his grip was more firm. I think he'll recover immediately and we can move him to a regular room." Will answered.

Dr. Alistair nodded. "Yeah, let's hope so. I'll have to go. I need to attend some other patients."

"Sure."

Dr. Alistair clapped him in the back and left Will in the hallway. Will's phone vibrated again. He answered it immediately. It was a call from the emergency room.

"Dr. Solace speaking."

He froze after he had heard the speaker on the other side. He hung up. He ran towards the emergency.

He was out of breath when he reached the emergency. But the people he had seen in there still managed to squeeze out the remaining oxygen in his lungs.

"W-what?" Will tried to say something but failed to do so as soon as he stared at the people gathered in one area of the emergency room.

Two people stared back at him. They stood on both sides of a certain cot. His father, Apollo Charleston and on the other side of the cot was Nico di Angelo. Lying unconscious on the cot was his mother, Naomi Solace.