XVI

PERCY

The woman dropped them off on a street corner close to the hospital. We waited for her to leave before we turned in the other direction and looked for a place to let Nico rest.

"Forest's too far," Panda commented as she slung one of Nico's arms around her neck.

"I saw an alley down the road. We could sit behind the dumpster so no one sees us," I said, remembering the narrow and dark valley a few yards ahead of us. Panda nodded. I grabbed Nico's other arm and we slowly, but surely hauled him towards the alley and slipped in when no one was watching us. We set him down and he moaned as he touched the cool wall. Panda rummaged through her bag for water and a cloth while I slowly backed out. I took out my cellphone that had miraculously survived Laelaps and called Annabeth.

"Percy? Is something wrong?" Annabeth answered immediately. It felt good to hear her voice after everything that had happened. I hadn't been able to speak with her since we had left and all I could think about was holding her in my arms again.

"Annabeth," I said quietly, hoping Panda wouldn't hear me. Although Panda knew she had Annabeth's full support, she didn't like asking her for help. They had always butted heads in the past because both were stubborn and smart; both making plans or demands that clashed with the other. "Nico's been hurt –" I began until Annabeth cut me off.

"Is it bad?" she asked urgently. I glanced back to see how bad Nico, at least, looked.

"He got hit by Laelaps and a car. I don't think he's doing good," I said, not wanting to say if it was bad in case I was overreacting.

"Laelaps? Uh, never mind. Tell me where you are and stay there," she said. I explained where we were and then she hung up. As I walked back towards Panda, who was now dabbing a moist cloth across Nico's forehead, a cold wind brushed my chest. I looked down and remembered the wound I'd gotten attacking Laelaps. It stung a tiny bit, but the adrenaline and Nico's wounds on my mind kept me from even thinking about it.

"Just great! This was my favorite shirt!" I complained as I pulled it off and stared at it in frustration. I couldn't walk around with a ripped and bloodied t-shirt. I was lucky no one called the ambulance on us as we walked to this alley, but before I could ask for another shirt Panda rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on Percy, stop trying to show off your abs," Panda teased as she threw another shirt at my face. I grumbled under my breath as she leaned over Nico and touched his forehead. He shivered under her touch and she frowned.

"He doesn't look good," she murmured, suddenly serious again. I pulled the t-shirt over my head and scooted closer to her.

"What's wrong?" I asked, as I studied Nico's pale face.

"I don't know. He got hit pretty bad. I'm worried he got a concussion."

"Can you fix it?" I asked, moving Nico's messy hair out of his sweaty face.

"Do I look like an Apollo kid?" Panda snapped. I glared at her.

"Well, what do we do? We can't go to a hospital," I retorted. Panda sighed.

"I don't know what we can do," she sighed.

"I think I might," a voice said. Our heads snapped up to see a man's shape outlined at the entrance of the alley we were sheltering in. Panda stood up and stepped over Nico protectively.

"Keep your claws in Panda, it's me," the voice said as a guy walked closer and we could finally see his features more clearly. He was tall and had an athletic build with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Will!" Panda sighed in relief.

"Hey Panda," he said, as they shared an embrace.

"What are you doing here?" she asked bewildered.

"Annabeth sent me," he said. Panda shot me a quick glance to let me know she knew it was me and nodded. A feeling of happiness flooded over me. Annabeth had told me that since Zeus had died people were slowly regaining their memories of Panda; which was the main reason why some of the campers were on our side. Then I remembered why Will Solace was one of the only campers of Apollo on Panda's side. They had dated. But the tension you'd usually see between exes was long gone. They had gone their separate ways.

"What's wrong?" Will asked as he came up to me as I sat next to Nico.

"You tell us," I answered. Will set down his bag and tried to wake Nico up.

"Come on boy, wake up," he murmured softly as he held Nico's face in his hands. One of Nico's eyes opened, but closed quickly.

"Come on," Will prompted softly as he tapped Nico's cheek. Panda kneeled next to me and watched anxiously as Will tried to wake Nico. After a few minutes, Nico's eyes finally fluttered opened.

"What?" he rasped, taking a painful gasp afterward.

"Tell me where it hurts," Will said.

"Che-e- chest," Nico said, taking painful breaths. Will moved his jacket and lifted up his shirt. With three fingers he softly applied pressure waiting for a reaction from Nico. When he touched one of his ribs Nico moaned in pain.

"Just what I thought, he's got a broken rib," Will reported grimly.

"Aw man," Nico moaned as his head fell slack.

"It's all right," Will soothed. "We'll wrap you up like a mummy and give you some ambrosia and in a few hours you'll be as good as new." Nico nodded.

"Panda, can you grab me some bandages from my bag?" Will asked as he checked for more broken bones. Panda pulled his bag toward her and rummaged inside around for what he asked for.

"Jeez, you've got a freaking armory of a first aid kit here," Panda commented as she pulled out a bunch of different things. Will chuckled.

"It can't be that hard," I said, as I pulled the bag open wider and helped her search. "Jeez Will, how much do you carry?" After a minute, we finally found the bandage and handed it to Will.

"About time," he said playfully.

"Okay, Percy hold Nico's shirt. Panda, you can hold his hand. This is going to hurt a little," Will instructed as he placed the beginning of the bandage in the middle of his chest and started to slowly wrap it around him. Nico's hand squeezed Panda's as he suppressed painful moans. When Will finished, Nico let out a heavy sigh.

"All right, now have some ambrosia and you'll start feeling better," Will said as he pulled out a small piece.

"Oh, can you check Percy for me too?" Panda said, as she was helping Nico eat his ambrosia.

"Panda –" I began but she glared me into silence.

"He got cut," she said. Will looked at me expectantly. I sighed.

"You can be such a pain," I mumbled at Panda as I showed Will my wounds.

"Yeah, I think you're good," Will said after a moment's pause. "Just eat some ambrosia before it gets infected and here –" he said, grabbing a moist cloth. "wipe off the blood too," he said as he tossed me the cloth.

"Yeah, yeah," I said as I started cleaning up. Will stood up and grabbed his bag after looking over Nico one more time. Panda and I stood up as well.

"Thanks Will," I said.

"Yeah, thanks," Panda repeated.

"Not yet. I'm gonna check you up too Panda," Will said. Panda's eyes stretched wide.

"Why? I'm perfectly fine!" she complained.

"Just humor me Panda. I don't want to leave without making sure you're fine too. And I know you. You'd rather suffer in your pain than ask for someone's help," Will said and I was impressed at how well he knew her. Panda looked around, not objecting. She glanced at Will again, who was watching her with raised eyebrows.

"All right!" Panda exclaimed and I chuckled.

"Karma," I said as I sat back down next to Nico. She stuck her tongue out at me and I did the same. As I waited, Will check her ribs as well and made sure she wasn't hiding any wounds.

"Told you," Panda said, as he finished examining her.

"Just making sure," he said and Panda just made a face. Then he turned to all of us.

"Okay guys, no one else besides a handful of campers know where I am, so I have to go now," he said, sending a glance in Panda's direction.

"Thanks Will," Nico rasped. I nodded my acknowledgement and Panda gave him a hug.

"Thanks for coming," she whispered. He smiled, nodded towards Nico and me, then turned and left back to camp.

Well, I hoped you liked this chapter. I didn't want to make it too serious and I brought Will Solace to kinda show that there are other campers on their side. Hope it turned out well! Let me know what you thought about it. :)