Mother Sally

Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or P!nk. (The song is Run by P!nk BTW)

The idea for Nico was TheDeadOne28 idea. Hope you enjoy!

Nico POV.

"Why me? Why me? Why is it always me? Everyone wants the great Nico to do EVERYTHING! They need to say their good byes, the need someone 'taken care of' They need to know if Percy's alive. Why can't they leave me alone?"

That's pretty much what was running through my head.

"Oh Percy. Why'd you have to go? You messed everyone up. You LEFT!" White hot anger burned in my chest. The big stupid barnacle head left! Right when the world needed him most. Well, my world. I'm just a kid! Everyone treats me so much older! And they all expect me to know where the stupid son of Poseidon went!

I tried to cool my anger as I charged a big tree. Just as the shadows were about to enclose around me, a small voice said in my head.

'Well, why not you?'

It surprised me so much that I lost my concentration. I slipped and fell through a random roof. I landed on the floor. Crap. I look around and saw I was in an apartment. It looked oddly familiar. I heard a noise. I looked down and saw… a cat. Underneath me. I rolled off of it. The demon possessed cat jumped up, hissing and spitting and scratched my face! The nerve! Grabbing my face I swatted it away. It kept hissing and scratching me. I was all ready to stab the thing when I heard a voice.

"Hunter!" It said sternly. "You stop it right now! I-." the owner walked into the room. It was one of the few people that I liked, maybe even loved.

Sally Jackson.

She stopped and looked at me. She was dressed in sweatpants and a tee-shirt, her hair was pulled into a high pony-tail. She looked younger then she had been looking in months due to Percy. Her hands were dripping and full of soap. She had a dish towel thrown over her shoulder. She looked like home.

"Nico!" She said. She walked over to me while drying her hands. She helped me up and shoed the demon away. "Oh! Look at you Nico!" She said. She held me at arm's length. "You're so big! What happened to your face?" I told her I had accidently fell on her cat. I thought she would be mad but I should have known better. She's Sally Jackson, she doesn't get mad. She fussed over it and decided to clean it. She took my arm and led me to the kitchen.

"What'ch ya doin?" I asked. She had a C.D playing. The most beautiful, relaxing music was playing. There was a tea towel laid on the counter with soapy dishes on top. The dish-washer was also going.

"Washing dishes." I wanted lunch but realized I didn't have any clean ones left. I've just been so busy!" I nodded, I knew how that felt.

"So, when did you get a-a-a cat?" I kind of spat the last word out. Sally laughed.

"A few days ago. Paul thought it might be good to give me some company while he's at school, and you know, Percy's gone." I thought she was going to cry but she shook herself and was back.

"Want some cookies?" She asked with a smile. Of course I want cookies.

"Of course I want cookies!" I ginned at her. I never grin at people. She smile back and placed a hand on my head as she walked by.

"So. What brings you to my humble home Nico?" She asked as she rummaged through the freezer looking for cookies.

"Um, an accident? I was trying to get to camp and, well, I'm not really sure what happened. I thought I worked out the bugs with shadow traveling but I guess not." Sally pulled a bag of cookies out of the freezer.

"Well, keep practicing! You will never guess how long it took me to get cookies right!" She put a plate on the table. She sat down and nibbled on one.

"So… any news on Percy?" She asked quietly.

This is the part of my tale that I am thoroughly embarrassed about. I- Well, I lost it.

"WHY DOES EVEYONE THINK I'LL FIND HIM?!" I yelled. Sally looked shocked. "I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS! IF I DID WOULD I KEEP IT IN THE DARK?" I stood up and turned my back to Sally. I continued to yell. "I WANT PECY BACK JUST AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE, THEN THE NEXT GUY! He loved me. I thought he would stay." Tears filled my eyes. "He was my brother. My mother, sister, everyone I trusted or who took care of me left. I though Percy would stay." The tears spilled over and a sob escaped me. Sally's arms wrapped around me.

"Shhhhh. It's ok. It's ok. We'll get Percy back. Shhhh." I turned around and hugged her. I was exhausted. I hadn't slept in days I and been traveling everywhere trying to find where Percy went. Everyone WOULD NOT stop asking and I was tired. I cried on Sally for a while, She led me into Percy's room and laid me on the bed and told me kindly but firmly that I needed to sleep. I was out before my head hit the pillows.

I woke up slowly and looked at the clock, it was 9:30. I had slept for 8 straight hours! I remembered what I had said to Sally and groaned. Percy was her son and I got mad at her for asking about him! I felt like punching myself in the face. I climbed out of bed and ran my fingers through my hair. After deciding it was presentable I walked out, looking for Sally and trying to think of a good way to apologize. Hades and his kids were not good at this…. I walked out of the room and listened. I could hear soft talking coming from down the hall. I walked towards it.

"Shh! Paul, the poor boy is exhausted! If you wake him up I swear…"

"You're not very good at threating Sally. I love you but it's the truth." I heard Sally huff.

"Whatever. Would you be a dear and go get me some more coffee?"

"Sure." I heard Paul pick something up and start walking towards the door I was standing right outside of. I ran back a few steps to make it look like I had just walked out of Percy's room. I hadn't heard anything but I didn't want it to look like I had been listening. Paul walked and saw me, a look of fear passed over his face and it made me mad. Why does everyone fear me?! But then he said in a whisper.

"I didn't wake you up did I? Because if I did, don't tell Sally!" I grinned.

"Whipped much?" I asked. He huffed in indignation.

"No!" he defended.

"Paul? Are you bringing my coffee?" Sally yelled softly.

"Yes! Just a second!" I heard Sally laugh,

"Sorry babe, Nico's right, you're whipped!" Paul mockingly glared at me as he went to go get coffee. I went into the room where Sally was. I couldn't look at her. I was ashamed. On my head I could feel Sally eyes burning holes. Swallowing, I looked up. My eyes met hers and instead of anger I was met with kindness. I felt like crying again.

"How did you sleep Nico?" She asked softly.

"Really well, thank you." It was quite. I looked away again and took a shaky breath and forced my eyes to meet hers.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you." If she heard that I'd be surprised. She smiled,

"I forgive you." Shock filled me. I had never seen anyone forgive so easily.

"What?" I asked.

"I said, I forgive you." She replied.

"But, Percy's your son and I got mad at you for asking about him. I yelled and acted like a three year old." I winced at my own words. 'Humble' wouldn't be a word to describe me.

"But I should have been more considerate." Sally defended me. "You were clearly exhausted, hungry and angry about the cat, sorry about that, by the way. And I knew that you had been looking for Percy and I just couldn't stop myself. Will YOU forgive ME?" My moth dropped pen. She was asking for forgiveness?

Walking over I gave her a hug.

"You do know you're like a son to me, right?" She asked. I nodded.

"You do know you ARE a mother to me, right?"

I stayed for a few days with them but I did have to leave again. Sally gave me enough cookies to feed the camp for a week and made me promise I'd IM soon. As I left my one though was: Why was this woman not a goddess?

Third POV.

Sally sighed as she closed the door. That poor boy. It was cruelty the way the boy lived. She tried not to think about Percy and what he might be doing right now or where he is. She walked into the kitchen and found two notes. She picked up the first one. It read.

"Dear Sally.

Thank you for having me at your house. I feel a lot better now.

One of the Apollo girls gave me this to give to you. I don't know what it is but I hope you like it. I hope to see you soon.

Nico"

Sally picked up the second note, it read:

"Dear Mrs Blowfis

Hey! A little while ago my favourite artist 'P!nk' had me sing a part in one of her songs! The song I feel connects with you somehow. I really wanted you to listen to this song. I hope to see you soon!

Harmony."

The CD looked harmless so Sally popped it in.

Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Remember make believe in you All the things I said I'd do

I wouldn't hurt you like the world did me I'd keep you safe, I'd keep you sweet
Everything that I went through I'm grateful you won't have to do

I know that you will have to fall I can't hide you from it all
But take the best of what I've got And then you know no matter what

Before you walk away

You know you can Run, run, run, Back to my arms Back to my arms Run, run, run, Back to my arms And they will hold you down (Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh) (Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh) They will hold you down (Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh) (Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh)

"This song was written from a mother to her child." Sally thought.

See, here's the bloody, bloody truth You will hurt and you will lose I've got scars you won't believe Wear them proudly on my sleeve

Sally sank to her knees in the middle of the kitchen.

I hope you'll have the sense to know

That sadness comes and sadness goes

Love is hard and play life loud It's the only to give a *dang* about
But take the best of what I've got And then you know no matter what

Before you walk away
You know you can Run, run, run,

Back to my arms Back to my arms Run, run, run, Back to my arms

And they will hold you down

(All this time I swear I'm never wasting) (All your smiles, I'm always gonna save this) They will hold you down (Put it in the back of my mind) (Whenever I'm away from you) They will hold you down

She put her hand over her mouth to try and hold in her sobs.

(All this time I swear I'm never wasting) (All your smiles, I'm always gonna save this) They will hold you down (Put it in the back of my mind) (Whenever I'm away from you)

Run, run, run, Back to your arms Back to your arms Run, run, run Back to your arms And they will hold you

Sally couldn't hold it in. A sob escaped her lips, she hugged herself. This was the first time she had allowed herself to cry in a long time.

Run, run, run, Back to my arms Back to my arms Run, (all this time) (I swear I'm never wasting) Run, (all your smiles) (I'm always gonna save this) Run, (put it) (In the back of my mind)
Back to my arms And they will hold you down

There Paul found her later with tears streaming down her face and a song playing over and over. He didn't even say anything but her put his arms around her and held her, just like she longed to do with Percy.

Sorry for the long wait guys! I hope you REALLY liked it! Sorry if Nico was OOC

Thank you to my AWESOME new beta KingJupiter!

I'm thinking

1. Leo

2. My OC Harmony from my other story Dedication Night.

OR

3. Clarisse La-rue.

Those are who I'm thinking. But you guys can say whoever!