A/N Thanks for the lovely reviews.

Two chapters in two days - that is definitely a record for me!

Please review - I do like reviews!

Hercules blinked up at Pythagoras in confusion.

"What do you mean Jason's gone?" he asked, mind still fuddled by sleep.

"I mean he is not in the house," Pythagoras said with exaggerated patience, still tugging at Hercules' arm to try to get him up quicker.

Hercules rolled out of bed and pushed himself up off the floor, stumbling towards the main room with his sandals in hand and the blonde mathematician shepherding him along from behind. Finally the urgency of what Pythagoras was telling him filtered through his sleep addled brain and he stopped dead. Pythagoras walked straight into the back of him with an audible 'oof'.

"What are you stopping for?" the young genius asked in exasperation.

Hercules turned towards him slowly.

"You mean to tell me that Jason has gone off alone in the middle of the night? In the dark? In the cold? After we explicitly told him to stay indoors? He can hardly walk and he goes and does something like this!"

Pythagoras sighed.

"I think he probably heard us earlier. I think he may have gone after the merchant. He has taken his sword."

Hercules gaped at him.

"In the state he's in? What is that boy thinking!" he growled, worry increasing his anger.

Pythagoras sat to pull on his sandals before pulling his cloak on over his head. There was a definite chill breeze in the air tonight that even crept through the shutters of the house. He shivered slightly and settled the cloak a little more firmly about himself.

"He promised me he would not do this again," he murmured to himself.

Unfortunately Hercules had much better hearing than the young mathematician had credited him with.

"What do you mean he promised you he wouldn't do this again?" the big man asked deceptively calmly, even as he grabbed his own cloak and his sword.

Pythagoras panicked slightly. After all he had assured Jason that he would not tell their burly friend what had happened that afternoon.

"Ah... urm... well," he stammered.

"Pythagoras," Hercules growled dangerously.

"Yes... well... you see I may possibly have found Jason at the agora this afternoon," the blonde admitted, blushing slightly.

"How in the name of all that's holy did he manage to sneak out past you?" Hercules asked.

"Well you see there was something I needed to look at in the library..." Pythagoras trailed off.

"And you didn't think to tell me this earlier?" the big man asked angrily.

"Jason asked me not to."

"What? And you agreed!"

"Hercules we don't have time for this now. We need to find Jason," Pythagoras stated, his sense of urgency making his tone sharp.

Hercules restrained himself from throttling Pythagoras and took a deep breath. He nodded sharply.

"Right," he agreed. "Don't think we're finished with this conversation though boy," he added levelling a meaty finger at the mathematician.

Pythagoras sighed. He had weathered the storm of Hercules' anger before and no doubt would again, but it didn't mean he had to like it. Crossing quickly to the door, he raced down the stairs and out into the street, Hercules in tow. Once they were outside he paused.

"If Jason heard what we said and is going looking for the merchant, he will be heading for the Sacred Way," he said quietly.

"That's if he heard what we said," Hercules responded.

"Why else would he have taken his sword?" Pythagoras asked, exasperated.

"The Sacred Way it is then," Hercules agreed. "Come on we have to find him."

Together they ran off down the street, making for the Sacred Way, hopefully to find their wayward young friend.

The agora was almost eerily quiet as Jason crossed it for the second time that day. The empty market stalls were washed pale in the moonlight – the bare bones of the city showing now that the day had ended and the streets were deserted – even the resident drunks having found somewhere else to go to at this late hour. In the distance a bell tolled and a goat bleated in response. A bitter chill blew through the deserted market square, stirring up the dust and detritus of the city. It caught at Jason's bare arms and made him shiver, his skin chilled icy cold. He stopped at the fountain on the far side of the square and sat down on the edge, sighing. What was he doing out here? He had left the house determined to face down Dakos himself, angry at his friends for keeping something so important from him. Yet deep down he knew there was no way he could do this on his own; knew he would not make it as far as the Sacred Way without help. God he was so tired right now that he could cry. He had left the house wanting to prove something – if only to himself – but now in the cold and dark streets all he wanted was to be back in the warmth and safety of his home and to know that his friends were sleeping in the other rooms, there for company and comfort if he needed it. He ran a hand through his wild dark curls and then dropped his face into his hands, utterly miserable.

Gradually he became aware that there was someone sitting alongside him. Two people, he amended, one on either side. Gently but insistently his hands were tugged away from his face and he looked up to see the exasperated but concerned blue eyes of Pythagoras looking back at him.

"I'm sorry," Jason almost whispered.

Pythagoras shook his head slowly, unable to maintain his anger in the face of his friend's obvious misery.

Hercules watched them both with mixed emotions unsure whether he wanted to sit on the dark haired young man alongside him to prevent him from wandering off again, or spank the living daylights out of him for scaring them, or even just pull him into a giant hug. He was almost incandescent with anger at the boy's reckless disregard for his own health and well-being and he fully intended to let Jason know that as soon as they got home. He had watched Pythagoras' panic growing as they had raced through the streets and, although he still harboured some anger towards the mathematician for keeping Jason's earlier escapade from him, he was not about to let the brunette get away with scaring the blonde like that. He refused to admit, even to himself, that he could still feel the tendrils of fear that had gripped his own heart as they had searched for the boy – fear spawned by the knowledge that anyone or anything could have found and harmed Jason in the darkness and that the boy was at present in no shape to defend himself.

"Come on," the big man barked. "Let's get you home." With one hand firmly gripping his wayward charges arm, he pulled the boy to his feet, making sure he was balanced on his crutches before they moved off anywhere. In silence the three of them started towards home.

If any of them had hoped that the walk home would calm Hercules down or blunt his anger in any way they were sadly mistaken. The journey had taken longer than he would have liked as they had to go at Jason's pace – which at present made a snail look a bit quick – and had to keep stopping for the lad to have a rest. So it was that Hercules entered the house with a hand wrapped firmly around an arm of each of the boys, almost dragging them in, although being careful not to pull Jason off balance – the last thing any of them needed was the young man falling and doing himself any more damage. Still seething he unceremoniously dumped both boys on the bench next to the table and turned to light the lamps. Pythagoras made to stand in order to help him.

"Sit down," Hercules growled.

"I was just..."

"Pythagoras," the big man rumbled dangerously. Lamps lit he looked at his two young companions stonily. Pythagoras was looking back at him anxiously, teeth worrying at his thumbnail nervously. Jason on the other hand was looking at the floor, arms folded, looking like nothing so much as a sulky, though guilty, teenager.

"Now I want to know right now what's been going on around here today and one of you two is going to tell me." Hercules said. "You start," he added pointing at Pythagoras, "because I'm too angry to deal with you right now." He turned his finger on Jason.

Pythagoras took a deep breath before he began.

"Well the thing is... urm... I was... it was like this..." he stammered.

Hercules raised an eyebrow.

"I said talk not babble," he barked.

"Yes. Of course." Pythagoras sighed. "I was frustrated at not being able to help you. And then it came to me... I might not be able to help search for the merchant but I might be able to research the ring of Gyges. I thought it might help us in some way to know a little more about it. Jason was asleep so I thought I could go to the library and do some research. I thought I would be back before he woke up. Only once I was at the library..."

"You lost track of time like you always do and took longer than you intended to," Hercules finished for him.

"Yes," answered Pythagoras. "On my way back I met Medusa in the agora and then we saw Jason on the other side of the square. I was angry and I went over and grabbed his arm but he panicked..."

"I wasn't that bad," Jason interrupted.

"You were having a full blown hyperventilating panic attack in the middle of the street," the blonde retorted.

Jason looked back down at his hands as Hercules turned to him with an eyebrow raised.

"I just had a bit of a flashback," the brunette muttered. "It wasn't that big a deal."

"You could have fooled me," Pythagoras snapped. "Anyway, once he calmed down we came home. He asked me not to say anything to you and I agreed. I did not think it would hurt anything to not tell you. And you did promise me you would not do anything like that again," he added turning to Jason with an accusatory look.

"I know. I'm sorry," Jason whispered miserably.

"What were you doing in the market in the first place?" Hercules asked, his face still bleak.

"We were out of milk," Jason answered. "I didn't think it was that far to the agora."

"That's the problem," Hercules stated, his temper starting to rise again. "You didn't think! You never think! You just jump in with both feet and never think of the consequences. There was a reason that we told you not to go out. We weren't keeping you indoors for fun. Do you have any idea of how close you came to dying? Of how ill you've actually been? This is not a game, Jason."

"I know it's not," Jason retorted, his own temper rising. "What happened was horrible. But it's me it happened to. You both keep treating me like I'm some fragile piece of pottery but I'm not. I'm still me. I'm still Jason. I'm not going to fall apart the first time one of you says something you think I don't want to hear. And don't you think it's a bit hypocritical of you to be lecturing me on consequences? I don't see you holding back whenever you want something."

"This isn't about me," Hercules shouted. "Even forgetting this afternoon's idiocy, what in the name of the gods did you think you were doing out there tonight? Do you have any idea how scared he was?" He gestured towards Pythagoras. "How he felt when he found your bed was empty? How much he was panicking when he woke me up?" He took a deep breath to try to calm himself.

Jason looked at the floor. Hercules had never seen him look so young and lost and guilty. It made the big man feel older than ever.

"I heard you talking," Jason said quietly. "You weren't even going to tell me that you were looking for Dakos were you?"

"No," Pythagoras chimed in.

"Why not?"

"Because we were worried about you doing something stupid like this," Hercules answered hotly. "You can't even stand properly let alone fight if it came to it. What exactly did you think you were going to do if you faced the man?"

"I don't know," Jason responded. "But he's my demon to face. If I don't do this myself... if I don't stand up to him... then he's won – they've won."

Hercules shook his head thoroughly exasperated by the boy. Looking closely he realised that Jason was shivering slightly, although he was obviously trying to hide it. The burly man reached out a hand and touched the young man's arm, almost hissing at how icy cold his skin felt. Clearly Jason was chilled to the bone. Hercules pushed back from the table and disappeared into his own room, returning a moment later with a blanket which he unceremoniously wrapped around the boy's shoulders – gentle hands belying his angry face.

"That's another thing," he growled, "you know well enough that you should not get too cold and yet you go out on one of the coldest nights of the year so far without so much as a cloak!"

"I don't have a cloak," Jason answered.

"That is beside the point!" Hercules roared. "I swear to the gods, Jason, that if you don't start doing as you're told I'm going to tie you to that damned bed to stop you leaving again!"

He knew as soon as he said it that he may have gone too far. The look of utter terror that flashed across Jason's face at the thought of being tied up was almost enough to break the big man's heart. And he nearly apologised as he saw tears springing up in the lad's hazel eyes. Then he thought of what might have happened to the boy if Dakos or worse yet Alektryon had got to him first tonight and his heart clenched in fear, anger rising once again.

Pythagoras had been getting more and more agitated as the conversation had gone on. Now he stepped in, trying to soothe Hercules before he said anything he would truly regret. He gently grabbed the big man's arm.

"Hercules, it's alright," the blonde said softly. "Nothing happened. Jason is here and he is fine."

Hercules shook himself free from Pythagoras and looked at the mathematician incredulously.

"I can't get over how naïve you both are," he yelled. "Do you have any idea what could have happened if someone else had found him before we did tonight?" He looked at the matching looks of confusion on both the boys faces and nearly growled in frustration. "What if he had been attacked? He couldn't have protected himself." Suddenly weary he passed one meaty hand over his face and sat back down on a stool, drained.

"Hercules..." Pythagoras started.

"Just go to bed both of you," Hercules snapped. "I'm too angry to talk to either of you any more tonight."

"Hercules..." the mathematician tried again.

"Go," Hercules roared.

Once the boys had gone, the big man poured himself a cup of wine and sat nursing it in the semi-darkness, brooding. He knew that neither of the boys had truly understood the reasons for his anger – had known how truly terrified he had been. He sighed. Yes Jason had been foolish to go out like he did but Pythagoras was right in that no real harm had been done. But it could have. All it would have taken would have been one unsavoury character to have found the boy before they did and he could have been lost to them forever. Hercules closed his eyes. These two boys would be the death of him he was sure of it.

Standing up he started to make his way back to his room to try and get some sleep – although in truth sleeping was the last thing he thought he would be able to do tonight. On the way he thought better of it and instead went to check on Jason, more than a little worried that the turmoil of the day and night would have brought his nightmares back in full force. Slipping over to the bed he noticed that the lad was still shivering slightly, although the extra blanket was discarded on the floor. Hercules rolled his eyes and picked it up, smoothing it out over the boy gently. His hand hovered for a moment over the top of the tousled brown curls and he smiled slightly.

"Sleep well lad," he said softly, before turning and making his way to his own bed.

The sun was well and truly up when a subdued Jason emerged into the main room the next morning and slowly made his way over to the table where his two house-mates were having breakfast. Looking at the boy Hercules inwardly winced. It was painfully obvious that he had not slept well and he was paler than ever, exhaustion clinging to him like a blanket. He made no effort to get himself any food and sat in silence looking at his hands. Pythagoras bit his lip and exchanged a deeply worried look with Hercules before fixing a plate of breakfast for his friend and placing it in front of him. Jason listlessly pushed the food around his plate.

"I'm sorry," the young man said numbly, finally breaking the uncomfortable silence. "If you can give me a few days to get sorted I'll be out of your hair."

His two companions exchanged a confused look.

"What are you talking about?" Pythagoras said worriedly, his heart sinking.

Jason did not look up.

"I've caused you nothing but trouble since I came to Atlantis. I can't keep messing your lives up like that. I'll find somewhere else to go."

Hercules sighed. He had known for a long time that on a good day Jason's sense of self-worth was low and that his self-confidence was poor at the best of times – and this was most definitely not the best of times – but he hadn't quite realised how easily they could be broken. Time for some damage limitation then.

"Whoever said anything about you leaving?" he rumbled.

Jason looked up, confusion written in his eyes. It made both his friends hearts ache to see it.

"You were so angry," he almost whispered. "I didn't think you'd want me around any more."

"Well you thought wrong," Hercules stated firmly but kindly. "You made a mistake and I was angry. But it's over now."

"Besides," Pythagoras answered lightly, "Hercules gets angry with me whenever he is hungry or drunk – which is very frequently. But I am still here."

Jason smiled tentatively. He turned to Pythagoras.

"I'm sorry I broke my promise," he said. "I wasn't thinking."

"Do not worry," the mathematician answered, wrapping an arm around the too thin shoulders. "There was no harm done. You do need to start trusting us though."

"I trust you with my life," Jason protested.

"But you do not trust the fact that we will always be here for you and will always help you."

"People change," Jason mumbled. "They leave."

Pythagoras looked upset.

"We will not leave," he asserted.

"Everyone says that," Jason said, almost inaudibly.

"But I mean it," the blonde said firmly. "You are stuck with me. With both of us," he added as Hercules nodded his agreement. "But please, on this one thing, trust that I actually know better than you? I think we can all agree that my knowledge of anatomy is probably superior."

"He does know a lot about physiciany things," Hercules interjected.

Pythagoras rolled his eyes at the use of the phrase 'physiciany things' – only Hercules would believe that it was a real word!

"All I ask is that you do not over-exert yourself at the moment... and that means no going out until I decide you are well enough."

Jason nodded his acceptance, still a little subdued.

"I still wish I could deal with Dakos myself though," he said a little sadly. "It feels like I'm letting him win."

"There might be ways you can help," Pythagoras said thoughtfully. "Just as long as you don't try to do this all by yourself." He turned to Hercules. "You never told me exactly what you had found out."

Hercules outlined the conversation he had had with Meriones for them, embellishing it appropriately in true Hercules style. Pythagoras sat back, a look of deep concentration on his face. Suddenly he beamed.

"Meriones said that Dakos may not know Jason is alive right?" he asked.

"That's what I said," Hercules responded.

"Then I am beginning to get an idea," the young genius stated. He turned back to Jason. "I think I know how we can get to him," he said. "It's going to hinge on you... and we are going to need help."