-How much till we're there?-

-Like an hour— the blond responded with his eternal never-ending patience—You know, just because you ask every five minutes the time won't go faster.-

The younger one rolled his eyes -It would be way faster if you could let me shadow-travel.-

-I don't know what happened, man, but just because you're escaping from camp and avoiding The doctor it doesn't mean I'm going to let you fade.-

The dark eyed demigod sighed, giving up on his conversation. He rested his head on the window of the bus they were in, together with a few volunteers. Two days have passed already since the 'discussion' with Will. He obviously thought about what Will told him but he just couldn't help to be mad. To be honest he was scared as hell. During his childhood he heard a bit about the psychiatrist, about electric-shock therapy, weird guys that called themselves doctors and nasty medicine that made you go dumb. So, what did he do? He escaped, far away from Solace. The next day when Jason told him he was starting with the Underworld god's temples and needed his help, he couldn't be more relieved, he instantly said yes, packed a few things and climbed up on the bus with everyone else.

-Hey! Wakey, wakey Neeks.- he heard someone saying while gently shaking him.

-Huh?—he yawned and rubbed his eyes— where are we?-

-You fell asleep, we're already in California.-

-What was our first stop?- Nico said as he stand up and stretched, almost resembling a cat.

-The Hollywood Sign, it is up this hill, we are going to rest tonight and we can begin working tomorrow.-

-Got it.-

The son of Hades got out of the bus with his backpack on his shoulder. He took out a small silver cube and pressed a button, it instantly transformed on a tent. The look of it hurt him, it used to be his sister's tent. Various months ago, almost a year now, when he began his search for Percy, Artemis appear out of the blue to give them his sister's Hunter Pack.

With a nostalgic feeling he entered the tent and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Three days had passed since they arrived to the Hollywood Sign. Nico was proving himself useful opening a fissure at the side of the hill and calling some skeletons with all the material they needed. This was one of the most majestic temples he had built, and it was almost done, all thanks to Nico's workers who never stopped working. The design was made by Annabeth herself, together with Nico's suggestions. Really, that kid knew a little bit of everything and a hell lot of his father and what he represented and liked. The dark haired demigod even suggested the idea of using the same strategy as the Nabataeans when they sculpted Petra.

Something bothered the son of Jupiter, di Angelo was working himself to death, literally he just worked, eat, cleaned himself and barely made it to the tent without falling asleep on his feet. He knew that he was trying to distract himself, something bad happened between Nico and Will and he surely wanted to help, he didn't like to see Nico like this, the kid deserved a happy and peaceful life after all they've been through.

-It's done.-

Jason turned around toward the temple and the exhausted demigod before him. It was breathtaking, the Hades Temple was big without being excessive. It was made of Stygian marble and iron with a light touch of black tourmaline, sapphire, diamond and quartz. It also had the occasional bones here and there, together with plates of imperial gold and celestial bronze with prophecies of death and new life, with promises of eternal glory or eternal punishment. It was the perfect balance of what the Underworld represented, not only death and suffering, but also second chances to live and paradise.

-Are you ready yet?- the blonde demigod roamed curiously to where Nico's tent used to be.

-Yeah, just give me a moment.— he zipped his backpack, ready to leave— why are we going at night? Isn't it dangerous?-

Grace laughed at him -Dangerous? Since when do you worry about it being dangerous? Don't you trust your own chauffeur? Plus, your dad actually liked the temple so he is protecting us while we remain in California.-

Nico nodded, already walking towards the bus but the older demigod stopped him.

-Nico, you have a moment?-

-Something's the matter?- he turned around with an indecipherable expression, looking straight to Jason's blue eyes.

-I know something is bothering you, Nico. What happened between you and Will?-

The Underworld Prince's masquerade dropped for a moment.

-Nothing happened— he replied coldly— it is not your business.-

-It is my problem, I'm your friend, or at least I believe I am.-

To say that Nico was taken back would be an understatement. He wasn't surprised for Jason's stubbornness. He was actually surprised why Jason still put up with him.

-I don't want to talk about it, okay?-

-You will, sooner or later.-

Two weeks had passed since they left camp and they were already done with most of the temples. They went to Redwood National Park where they constructed Persephone's temple together with Hecate and Hypno's temples. Then they traveled to Yosemite National Park were they raised Thanatos, Erebos, Melione and Moriai's temples. Right now they were in Torrey Pines Natural Reserve where they had already edify a temple for the five rivers (Styx, Phlegethon, Lethe, Cocytus and Acheron), another one for the three judges of death (Aeacus, Rhadamanthys and Minos) and one for the Erinyes(or Furies). Currently they were just finishing the last one, a temple for Nyx. During all this time Nico had avoided him, only talking him for strictly temple matters or just the occasional 'good morning' or 'good night'. Jason was getting tired. He understood that the Son of Hades wasn't used to people worrying about him but enough was enough.

The sky was almost pitch-black when Jason stormed out of his tent towards the Italian demigod, who was checking a last minute details.

-We need to talk.-

The Tartarus survivor made a sign to his skeletons, as if saying leave us alone. He turned around, facing the former Roman.

-Jason, look—

-No, you listen to me. I had enough, I know you're not used to people but that doesn't give you an excuse to be an asshole! Lots of people worry about you, I do and I try to help you, but you just push me away. That's not fair, and you know it! I'm pretty sure Will was only trying to help you, he wouldn't do anything to harm you, yet you run away from him. Why? Tell me, what is possibly so bad that the Ghost King can't handle it?-

The Pontifex Maximus thought that he broke Nico. He would just stare at the ground shaking slightly. Yes, he was his friend but he also knew that Nico's power shouldn't be underestimated. He was shocked when Nico spoke again with a vulnerable voice.

-I'm scared, Jason.—he mumbled, still not looking at him— He told me my mind wasn't okay, that I needed help. That some traumas were affecting me more than they should. He implied something about therapy. He told me it wasn't like the 20th century, that they weren't going to shock me.-

Jason tentatively took a step forward, and then another one, and another one until he was just in front of Nico.

-Then why are you afraid?- he asked in a reassuring voice.

-I —he looked up, his eyes were shattered again, his insecurities showing and pure fear reflecting in them— I'm afraid of what people are going to think about me. I'm not dumb, I know that this 'helping-thing' implies people knowing my secrets and that's the problem. I have made mistakes, lots of them and I can't stand the thought of people leaving me for what I once did.-

-Nico— hesitantly he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder— everyone makes mistakes. I know, and everyone knows you didn't had an easy life. I'm pretty sure that if you did something was because you had a good reason. Nobody is going to judge you, people trust you, I trust you. You should start trusting us too. Reyna told me that Hazel was really happy because you finally told her that you would search for help, are you going to let her down?-

The smaller boy shook his head and Jason had to stop himself from hugging him. He knew that 20th century demigod needed comfort, but somehow he also needed a push out of his insecurities.

-Good, then as soon as we arrive to camp you're going to talk with Will, okay?-

-Okay-

At morning they were almost ready to leave. Grace separated himself a bit from the group and made an Iris message.

-Will Solace, Camp Half-Blood.— he said and waited. An image of a blond in a surgery shirt appeared— Hey Will, just an update, I convinced him. I warn you Solace, if you do something remotely close to hurting him I'm coming after you, got it? So you better stick to your promise to help him.-

-Don't worry, I promise I'll try as long as he lets me.-