A/N Thank you all for the encouragement and kind reviews - and really just for sticking with this! I hope chapter 8 doesn't disappoint.

Please review - if only so I know that people are still reading...

Pythagoras pushed himself up from the floor and stretched, working out the kinks in his back and shoulders as he went. He smiled softly as he looked down at Jason, still sleeping, his face young and peaceful. It had not been strictly necessary for Pythagoras to spend the night on the floor alongside his friend but after the revelations of yesterday he had found himself unable to sleep in his own bed – tossing and turning for what seemed like hours until he had finally given up and gone to check on Jason – worried that the strain of the day would have caused his friend further distress. As it was the brunette had slept more soundly than he had in days – there had been one occasion when he had begun to whimper but Pythagoras had been there instantly and had managed to soothe him back into peaceful sleep before the nightmare had really had a chance to take hold.

Working quickly but quietly, the blonde gathered up his blankets and pillow from the floor, intending to return them to his room before there was any chance of Hercules being awake. It wasn't so much that he thought the big man would object to his sleeping arrangements, it was more that he didn't want to open himself up to the playful mocking that would inevitably follow – Hercules had often teased him unmercifully in the past about his 'overly caring' nature.

Stepping into the kitchen, Pythagoras froze, his jaw dropping in a very unbecoming manner as he saw what was in front of him. Sleeping at the kitchen table, his head pillowed on his arms, was Hercules. As Pythagoras watched, the big man woke up and stretched, looking sheepishly at the mathematician.

"Morning," he muttered.

Pythagoras stood there with his mouth open, trying to get his brain and his tongue to work in conjunction with one another and to come out with something more meaningful than a squeak. Hercules raised an eyebrow.

"You do know there are better ways of catching flies?" he asked.

Pythagoras shut his mouth with a snap.

"What are you doing?" he finally blurted.

If anything Hercules looked even more sheepish than before.

"Ah," the big man said. "Well... I... urm... had to come and get some... cats."

"Cats... really?"

"Yes! I needed some cats."

Pythagoras smiled wryly.

"So you were not checking that Jason was alright then?" he asked with amusement.

Hercules looked embarrassed.

"Of course not!" he protested.

"And you were not worried about him at all..."

"No," Hercules scoffed, perhaps a little too forcefully.

Pythagoras sat down beside his burly friend on the bench, arms still full of blankets, and looked at him with amusement out of the corner of his eye.

"So he's alright then?" Hercules was clearly aiming for nonchalance in his tone – and failing utterly.

"Yes," responded the mathematician. "He has slept peacefully and his temperature is back to normal – as I said last night I believe it was the strain of yesterday that gave him the slight fever."

Hercules' sigh of relief was audible. He tried to cover it by clearing his throat loudly. Pythagoras smiled, which turned into a huge yawn.

"Looks like Jason's not the only one who needs to rest," the big man said, raising an eyebrow.

"I am fine."

"Go to bed, Pythagoras," Hercules said firmly. "I'm guessing you didn't get all that much sleep lying on the floor."

"Hercules I am not tired," answered Pythagoras. The alert effect he was aiming for was, however, somewhat marred by his second huge yawn.

"I can see how 'not tired' you are. Go to bed. The sun is not even up yet. Jason is fine and I'll wake you if I need you."

"Really Hercules," Pythagoras started again.

Hercules raised his eyebrow even further.

"Pythagoras," he rumbled dangerously. "Bed! Now!"

Pythagoras, knowing he was beaten – and fearing that Hercules might simply resort to putting him over his shoulder and carrying him to bed as he had done once before when he had felt the mathematician needed to sleep – beat a hasty retreat to his room. Despite his protestations of not being tired, he was asleep almost as soon as he laid down.

Bright sunshine pouring in through the window and landing fully on his face finally woke Jason. He squinted against the light, moving his head to one side to try to get the sun out of his eyes. Lying still, he recalled what had happened the day before and discovered that, aside from a lingering headache, he felt a lot better than he had in days – his heart felt lighter somehow. Stretching gently, he rolled over to face the main room and lay quietly watching the comings and goings of his friends without alerting them to the fact he was awake. There was something very relaxing – very comforting – about watching his two friends bustle around their home. Pythagoras moved lightly, lithely, as he prepared breakfast, occasionally ducking backwards to avoid one of Hercules' flailing hands as the big man tried to make a point, or slapping a meaty hand away as it tried to steal some food. Hercules, on the other hand, bustled in his larger than life manner, trying to help himself to Pythagoras' breakfast without being noticed. Their conversation was muted and just beyond the range of Jason's hearing as they clearly tried to avoid waking their housemate. Eventually a comment from Hercules resulted in an eye roll and a sharply delivered retort from Pythagoras, which in turn made the big man throw his hands in the air in disgust and retreat into his bedroom, banging the door – albeit very gently – as he went. Jason tried and failed to suppress a giggle at their antics. Pythagoras looked up at the noise and smiled as his blue eyes met the amused hazel ones of his friend. He came forward, still smiling, although his eyes were searching – appraising.

"How long have you been awake?" he asked.

"A while," Jason admitted. "I was just too comfortable to move."

"How are you feeling today?"

Jason gave his blonde friend an almost shy smile.

"A lot better," he said. "I mean... I've got a slight headache but that's probably just because I got worked up yesterday."

"So you would feel up to getting up for breakfast then?" Pythagoras asked.

"Can I?" the brunette responded, sitting up quickly and looking so hopeful that the blonde mathematician was both delighted and amused. "But I thought you said I shouldn't get up."

"No, I said you should not get up alone," Pythagoras clarified. "But since I am here to help you I can see no reason why you should not stay up for a while." He smiled and produced a pair of home made crutches from behind the pillar. "You will need to learn how to use these of course."

"That's alright," Jason answered eagerly. "I already know how... I broke my ankle a couple of years ago."

Pythagoras raised one eyebrow but chose not to say anything, storing the information away. It was rare that Jason let anything slip about his life before his arrival in Atlantis – although he had said more in the last few days than he ever had before – and Pythagoras found himself being intrigued by his sometimes strange friend, eagerly drinking in any scraps of information Jason chose to reveal.

Under Pythagoras' watchful gaze Jason carefully manoeuvred himself to the side of the bed and swung his legs over the side. He paused for a moment before levering himself up into a standing position, once again grabbing the pillar for support. Pythagoras hovered nervously, watching Jason struggling to get his balance as a wave of light-headedness briefly struck him. Quickly he stepped in to his friend's side, slipping an arm around Jason's waist to brace him if necessary. He smiled a little weakly as Jason regained his equilibrium and handed him the crutches.

"Just make sure you have your balance before you tried to move," he admonished.

Jason shot him a look before making his way unsteadily across the room. By the time they made it to the kitchen table he was distinctly out of breath and longing to sit down. Without needing to be asked, Pythagoras hooked a stool with one ankle and pulled it behind the brunette. Jason flopped down onto it gratefully and smiled wryly up at his friend.

"Thanks," he said. "That was a bit harder than I thought it would be."

Pythagoras frowned in concern and bit his lip.

"I am a little concerned that you cannot stand without feeling faint," he began.

Jason rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

"It's only because I've been lying in bed for so long," he argued. "I'm still a bit sore and a bit tired... but I really do feel better than I did."

Before Pythagoras could respond, Hercules wandered out of his bedroom. Seeing the two boys at the table he stopped and smiled slightly.

"You're looking better... not well but definitely better," he told Jason as he made his way over to the table.

Jason nodded.

"I feel better," he answered giving Hercules another of his almost shy smiles.

The appearance of a small plate in front of him made the brunette look up in time to see Pythagoras gathering various foods for breakfast and setting them out on the table. Task accomplished the blonde turned and picked up another stool, setting it down next to Jason and lifting his broken foot onto it.

"You must keep it elevated," he explained as Jason tried to hide a wince. "It will hurt less and heal faster."

Jason exchanged a tolerantly amused look with Hercules at Pythagoras' mother hen routine. Without another word the mathematician sat down and picked up a plate, determined to take advantage of the unusually large amount of food before Hercules managed to eat it all. For his part the large man rubbed his hands together with glee before setting about filling his plate. Jason smiled softly and sat back watching the two of them for a few moments until he felt Pythagoras' concerned gaze burning into him. Before the young genius could say anything, the brunette helped himself to a few grapes and a very small piece of cheese, placing them onto the plate Pythagoras had put in front of him. He was startled when a meaty hand deposited a cake and a chunk of bread on his plate before pushing a pot of honey towards him. He looked up to see Hercules watching him, his broad face more serious than Jason had ever seen it before.

"Eat," the big man growled.

Jason pulled a face.

"I'm not really that hungry," he started.

"Eat," Hercules repeated sternly. "Your clothes are hanging off you and he's sitting there getting more and more worried about you," he added, nodding towards Pythagoras. "Peaky and gaunt doesn't suit you, Jason,"

"He is right," Pythagoras said, softly. "You are too pale and too thin... and I am worried."

Jason frowned. He genuinely wasn't very hungry but the last thing he wanted to do was to make his friends worry about him. They had done more than enough for him since his arrival in Atlantis and he hated the thought of either of them being upset on his behalf. Trying to smile he picked up the cake that Hercules had thrust at him and started to nibble the edge. He had to admit that it did taste very good.

Pythagoras looked relieved at his acquiescence and Hercules appeared to be pleased, nodding before attacking his breakfast with gusto.

"Medusa's finest," Hercules said, nodding towards the cake that Jason was slowly working his way through. "She made them specially."

"Why?" Jason asked around a mouthful of cake, coming perilously close to spraying his friend with crumbs. "Sorry," he apologised, swallowing.

Hercules waved off the apology with one hand as he reached for more cheese with the other.

"The other night you told me that you had always liked sweet things," Pythagoras answered Jason's question softly. "Medusa overheard and thought that you might like some sweet cakes."

"But she didn't have to... I mean I didn't want... I didn't expect," Jason floundered, looking somewhat dumbfounded.

Pythagoras looked at him seriously. He hesitated for a second, knowing that he was going to be taking a risk given Jason's usual reticence when it came to his past, before ploughing on with what he intended to say.

"You are really not used to people being kind to you are you," he stated.

Jason looked mildly uncomfortable.

"It's not that anyone's ever been particularly unkind," he admitted, looking down at the table. "It's more that no-one's ever really cared."

"You have no family at all?" Pythagoras asked.

"Nah. No family. No real friends. I've always been a bit of a loner."

Hercules frowned.

"This conversation's getting a bit too serious for the breakfast table," he remarked, draining his cup. He pointed at Jason. "You keep eating," he admonished. "Have I ever told you about the time I acquired the girdle of the Amazon Queen?"

"Do you mean stole?" Jason asked.

"Oh Gods not this again," muttered Pythagoras.

Hercules gave them both a wounded look. Before he could respond, Pythagoras turned back to Jason.

"You said you broke your ankle a couple of years ago. How?" he asked a little desperately.

Jason almost laughed at the mathematician's transparent attempt to avoid yet another one of Hercules' tall tales but decided that he would indulge his friend for now.

"Actually it was a bit embarrassing," he admitted, smiling. "I used to live by the sea. In this tiny house that my father used to own on the cliffs overlooking this little fishing port. Anyway I've never really been all that comfortable with other people – never really fit in," he looked away quickly as he saw Pythagoras watching him, "so I used to wander off on my own a lot..."

"Because of course you never do that now," Hercules interjected.

Jason gave him a sour look.

"I'm not that bad," he protested, then blushed slightly at the identical looks of scepticism he received from his friends.

Hercules raised an eyebrow.

"And just how would you define good?" he asked.

"Hercules!" Pythagoras admonished lightly. "Go on," he added, turning back to Jason.

"There was this place I used to go to think. It was on the cliffs... well when I say on the cliffs... it was sort of half way up the cliff face. It was quiet and no-one ever bothered me there," Jason paused. "Anyway this one day I was having a really bad day and I knew it was stupid – it'd been raining for days and that always made the cliffs more dangerous – but I had to get away. So I went out to the cliffs and I was about half way up to the ledge I liked when there was a rock fall... and I kind of fell with it. Broke my ankle when I landed on another ledge near the bottom – at least it wasn't my neck I suppose. It turned out I'd been spotted by these people who were walking on the beach. They went and got help. The tide was coming in by that time so they had to get a rescue boat out to come and get me. Everyone made such a fuss... I swear I've never been so embarrassed."

Pythagoras smiled affectionately.

"You know there are times when I am surprised that you have managed to survive this long," he remarked.

"Why?" asked Jason, taking a small bite of his bread and honey – much to the pleasure of his two companions.

"Because you do seem to have a natural talent for attracting trouble," the young genius stated.

Jason looked abashed.

"Sorry," he muttered, once again feeling incredibly guilty about all the problems he seemed to cause his friends.

"Nonsense," Pythagoras responded, taking the brunette's hand. "I would not change a thing. At least I am in no danger of being bored any more."

"Unlike the rest of us whenever you decide to regale us with stories of your triangles," Hercules added, earning a death glare – well at least a slightly peeved look – from the blonde.

"Triangles are very interesting," he asserted.

"Of course they are," the big man answered sarcastically with a roll of his eyes. He stood up and stretched. "Well I am off out. I have things to do," he exchanged a significant look with Pythagoras. "And you are going back to bed once you have finished your breakfast," he added, pointing a finger at a startled Jason.

"Hercules I am not tired," Jason started, unconsciously mimicking the conversation the big man had had with Pythagoras earlier in the day. Even as he said it a wave of weariness overtook him – a fact which he tried hard to hide from his friends.

Hercules raised an eyebrow.

"The more you rest the quicker you will get better," he stated sternly. "You'll thank me for it later. Besides, if you rest now we will let you stay up for longer at supper time," he added with an indulgent smile.

Jason rolled his eyes.

"Yes Dad," he said semi-sarcastically.

Hercules stopped and stared at him in surprise. Jason looked down at the table, a faint blush appearing on his cheekbones. The big man narrowed his eyes and nodded to himself before exchanging one more meaningful look with Pythagoras. With one final glance at the two boys, he turned and left the house, mind firmly on his self-imposed mission.

The next couple days were both trying and frustrating for all three friends. Hercules had so far been unable to obtain any news of the merchant, Dakos, and was growing irritable as a result. He and Pythagoras conversed in clandestine whispers, trying to avoid Jason knowing what they were planning at all costs. It wasn't that they liked keeping things from him, Pythagoras mused to himself as he sat at the table absently drawing triangles, it was more that they were worried what his reaction would be. No matter how much he tried to act normally, the horrific experience he had been through had left their young friend emotionally fragile and neither of them wanted to risk hurting him in any way. Hercules had hardly been home in the last two days and had gone off that morning planning to speak to another couple of 'contacts'. The first of these, a slimy individual named Alektryon, had a decidedly dark reputation and Pythagoras couldn't help worrying about his burly friend as he doodled repetitively. The second, on the other hand, Meriones, was a bluff, good-natured drunk, in some ways very like Hercules himself – although it had to be said that his drinking habits made Hercules look like something of an amateur. Pythagoras was almost more worried about Hercules visiting Meriones than he was about Alektryon, knowing that if the two men got into a drinking contest again – as they seemed to do whenever they met – Hercules would be unlikely to return that night – would be unlikely to be able to stand by the end of it.

On a more positive note the young genius was pleased to see Jason growing a little stronger with each day that passed. While nightmares did still plague him they appeared to be nowhere near as horrific as they had been and he slept much more soundly than before. The dark rings around his eyes were beginning to fade and he seemed more at peace with himself than before. He was also beginning to show signs of regaining some of the weight he had lost – a fact which pleased his friends no end – although his appetite was still poor. Perhaps the most promising sign that he was starting to get back to normal, however, was the fact that he was beginning to become frustrated with the gentle restraints his friends put on him to try to keep him from over exerting himself. Pythagoras smiled. It appeared that patience was not one of Jason's strong points. For a normally highly active and agile young man, being confined to the house was highly irritating – a fact which he was becoming increasingly vocal about. Pythagoras had firmly vetoed the idea of the brunette going out, however, telling Jason that he had to stay indoors at least until he could cross the room without having to sit down at the end. Jason, for his part, had seemed inclined to argue until Hercules had threatened to sit on him to make sure he stayed put, informing the young man in his brutally direct manner that he would behave himself and stay indoors until they told him otherwise.

Pythagoras sighed. His own frustrations over the last few days stemmed largely from the fact that he was unable to help Hercules discover the information that they both so desperately wanted to know. He was not by nature a vengeful person but only the gods would be able to help Dakos if he ever got his hands on him! The problem was, however, that his talents bent more towards the direction of research than coercing information out of people in backstreet taverns. He felt so very useless right now. Suddenly a thought occurred to him. All of this had stemmed from the fact that the men who captured Jason had believed he had the ring of Gyges. Perhaps it would be worth his while to do a little research there. It might help them to understand what they were dealing with. He smiled. Yes, he might be unable to help Hercules search for the merchant but he could certainly start planning their next moves once the big man had found him, and a little research now could help them no end in the long run.

Decision made Pythagoras caught up his cloak, fully intending to go to the library and search for any references to the ring. He paused and glanced towards the alcove where Jason was peacefully slumbering. Despite his protestations to the contrary the young man was still tiring extremely easily and spending a significant amount of time sleeping. Pythagoras debated whether to leave a note for his friends telling them where he had gone, but ultimately decided that he would be likely to return before either Hercules came back or Jason woke up. Keeping his movements as quiet as possible, he left the house, gently closing the door behind him.

So it was that Jason woke up to find himself alone in the house some time later. He frowned. Being alone was not necessarily a good thing at the moment. Too many dark thoughts and bad memories swirled around in his head in moments of quiet, leading him into a very dark place and he had almost come to rely on the presence of his friends to pull him out of it before he sunk too far. Not that he would ever tell them that of course.

Feeling thirsty he levered himself up from the bed and grabbed the crutches that rested against the post. Now that the dizziness which had plagued him at first was receding he was much more stable when using the crutches and no longer felt like he was likely to fall at any moment – not that he would ever tell his friends that either – Pythagoras was already too much of a mother hen. He had to admit that he was grateful for the kindness Pythagoras, Hercules and Medusa had shown him but he would be a lot more grateful if they would just stop nagging. All they ever seemed to want him to do was eat or sleep and while deep down he accepted that they were in all probability correct, it didn't mean he had to be happy about it. He frowned again. All he really wanted to do at the moment was go and get some fresh air – he just wasn't built to stay in the house all the time – but the other's wouldn't hear of it. Finally making it to the table, he reached for the jar of milk and realised it was empty. The thought crossed his mind that perhaps he could just pop down to the agora and get some more. The fact that Pythagoras' cloak was gone meant that the mathematician was likely to be gone for a little while and Hercules had hardly been home in days. It wasn't as if he would have very far to go to get the milk and he could easily be back before either one of his friends. If he could do this they would have no reason not to let him go out again. Jason smiled. After all what harm could it do?