Disclaimer:: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus or its characters. They are the property of Rick Riorden, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

"Alright, that just about does it. We should have the test results from the blood work next week, Lou Ellen will call you." Will gave the younger man a wide smile.

"Who?"

"My secretary."

"Right. So that's it?"

"Yup."

"So...What's wrong with me?" Nico asked quietly, eyes glued to the floor.

Will tilted his head, "Do you think there's something wrong with you?"

The dark haired man snorted, "There's a lot wrong with me. But I meant something specifically physical."

The young doctor sighed, "Well, we won't know everything till we get your results back, but there are a few things we do know. You have low blood pressure and your heartbeat is slightly erratic."

"What does that mean?"

"Could be nothing, we'll knew more once we get those results. Just, do me a favor?"

"What's that?" Nico asked quietly.

"Try to stay out of trouble. I'd rather not see you in the ER anytime soon."

"Didn't you here, I'm a trouble magnet."

"Something tells me there's a little more to it than that. Take care of yourself Nico."

Nico smirked, "I thought that was your job?" he said glancing up through long lashes.

Will chuckled, "Maybe we can work together on that."

"So, how did it go?"

"Fine."

Nico leaned his head against the cool window of Jason's truck. The temperature was a nice change to the heat he felt in the clinic. That stupid doctor, so quick to trust Nico, it made his chest clench. In anger, of course. He only went so Jason would quick bugging him about making an appointment; it had nothing to do with that surfer wannabe. Nico sighed, god damn blonds.

"You okay there Neeks?"

"Don't call me that." The Italian mumbled.

"Hey, what's with you Nico?" Jason parked his truck at the curb outside his friend's apartment and turned the engine off. "What happened in there?"

"Nothing." The younger man sighed again, "We're waiting for test results."

"So, he seems to think there's actually something wrong?"

"He wasn't surprised."

"What?"

"He wasn't surprised I showed up. He had no doubts at all that I would keep my word."

"You're an honorable guy Nico."

"He doesn't know that. He's so... naive. Blindly trusting a stranger like that. This is New York for Hades' sake. I bet he gets mugged all the time. Stupid Adonis, going to get himself killed."

"Adonis eh?" Nico glared at his friend's reflection in the window, the blonde had a large shit eating grin on his face, "Is that why you agreed to go see him?"

"Fuck you Grace." Nico snapped as he pushed the door open and climbed out of the truck.

"Wait, Nico!" The Italian paused to glance at his friend over his shoulder, "Why don't you just ask him out? He seems like a good guy."

"Leave it alone Jay, I mean it."

"I just want you to be happy, Nico."

The young Italian sighed, "I know you do." Nico gave his friend a small smile, "See you later Jason."

That night Nico lay on his bed staring at the ceiling. He was anxious and his skin itched. He felt like he wanted to run or hit something, or scream as loud as he could until his voice was raw and his lungs ached. He was being haunted by blue eyes and an easy smile.

Nico rolled onto his side to look out the window. The moon was peeking out from behind the clouds but the night was still dark and Nico found himself missing the sun. Gods that stupid doctor was invading his every thought. What was I thinking, flirting like that? I thought that was your job. Tehehe... Shoot me now. There's no way someone like him would be remotely interested in a screw up like me. Not that I'm interested in him. He's just nice to look at. There's nothing wrong with admitting he's handsome, I'm not blind. Nico pushed himself off his bed and wondered into the living room. Throwing himself on the couch he began flicking through the channels, but nothing caught his attention. Why do I pay for cable every month when there's never anything on? Flicking to the next channel he paused, Grey's Anatomy was on. The women were cooing over some guy they called Mc Dreamy. Will's way more dreamy than that guy. I bet he's a better doctor too. Nico threw the remote into the cushions; disgusted with himself he slid to his feet. Moving around his small apartment Nico tried to find something to distract himself. He picked up a book and curled into the arm chair that sat by the window. He read the same paragraph four times before he threw in back onto the shelf in disgust. Leaning his head over the arm of the chair he gripped his hair in his fingers. I bet 's sun kissed hair is as silky as it looks. Nico pulled his hair roughly and let out a growl. Jumping up from the chair he grabbed his cell phone off the counter. I have to stop thinking about him! Get him out of my head. Maybe I should call... Nico dropped his phone before hitting send when he realized whose name he had stopped on. No, he wasn't going to call Percy; he wasn't going to go down that path again. And he wasn't going to allow himself to latch onto Will as a replacement. After lacing his boots and grabbing his battered aviator jacket Nico raced out the door. The fresh air would help him clear his mind.

For once, Nico didn't head towards the dark streets. He didn't search for seedy bars or sketchy groups. He wasn't looking for pain or reminders. He needed to distract himself from unattainable men. He took the train to Manhattan and headed over to Chelsea. If there was one way that was sure to help clear his mind of Will and Percy it would be to get smashed and find another guy to focus on. He didn't spend much time in gay bars; he felt anxious and out of place. He never got the courage to go talk to anyone and he couldn't force himself to dance. He mostly stood by the bar hoping someone would find his awkward mumbling and shy shifting endearing.

About a block from the bar he usually went to he felt a shiver down his spine and the sound of feet shuffling in the ally. Peering into the low lighting he could make out three figures heading towards him. Glancing back down the street he tried to gage if he could make it to the club before they reached him. Nico sighed and kept his head down and quickened his pace. Not enough to look like he was running, but hopefully enough so he looked like he had some where to go.

"Awww look Luke, it's little Nico!" Nico froze, he knew that voice. He would recognize it anywhere. Luke and Aries were the boys who made his life a living hell in high school. They were the stereotypical bullies; wedges, swirlies and attempts at shoving him inside lockers.

"Oh Nico, little angel, it's so good to see you again." The sneer in Luke's voice made him turn quickly. There was no way he would leave his back open to them.

"As much as I would love to rehash old times with you, I've got somewhere to be and I'm in no mood to deal with you."

Luke snapped, "Deal with us? You think you could deal with us?"

"Little boy thinks he could play with the big boys?" Aries had a dangerous glint in his eyes. He could hear Clarisse snickering behind the boys. Any other day Nico would have been a little excited to try his hand kicking the snot out of his old rivals but for once he was not looking for a fight.

"Look, just let it go alright? I don't want any trouble." Nico hoped he sounded exasperated instead of pleading.

"Oh, sure Nico, go on. Tootle along little one." Luke's words were dismissive but his tone was anything but. Nico knew as soon as he turned his back they would spring on him.

Nico let out a breath, "Alright let's get this over with."

Luke and Aries looked at each other with matching smirks, like Siamese cats. This was going to suck.

When the bell jingled with the opening door Nico didn't even look up. His coffee was sitting untouched in front of him and he clutched his arm closer to his body. Swollen and throbbing, he had broken enough bones in his life to recognize one. He knew he should have just grown some balls and went straight to the ER. It needs to be set so it will heal properly. He could see the look of disappointment Dr. Solace would give him, he could hear his voice telling him to stay out of trouble, and that he didn't want to see him in the ER again. Nico knew it didn't mean anything. The Doctor was being kind, he was doing his job. But for some reason Nico couldn't stop himself from taking it personally. He couldn't bring himself to face him again so soon. And he couldn't imagine having to explain to him he got jumped on his way to a gay bar. Not that he thought Will would have a problem with him being gay, no, Nico wasn't completely clueless. Will was obviously as straight as a rainbow. He did how ever think Will would judge him for going to the bar on a weekday. He was barely old enough to get in, and Will had a habit of talking to him like he was a little kid. And how could he tell Will it was his own blue eyes Nico was hoping to forget?

"I'll just have a tea, caffeine free, please."

Nico's head shot up, he would recognize that voice anywhere. Nico groaned and dropped his head to the table. The God's obviously hated him. He wasn't proud of the high pitched squeal he let out when he knocked his hand. Nico froze, forcing himself not to turn around. Please don't see me, please don't see me.

"Nico?" The blue eyed doctor stepped around the booth till he was standing beside the younger boy, "Its 1:00 in the morning, what are you doing here?"

"Uh...nothing. Just... felt like a coffee. What are you doing here?"

"Just got off shift at the hospital. You okay?" Will sat his tea on the table in front of Nico and placed a warm hand on his shoulder.

"Fine." If he just finished his shift Nico could go to the ER without worrying about running into him. He just had to get rid of the doctor without raising suspicions. "Look, umm, it's getting late. I'm going to go." Nico shrugged his hand off his shoulder, momentarily mourning the loss, and made a move to slide out of the booth slowly. Attempting not to move his wrist from where it was cradled against his lap. He couldn't stop the wince and hoped his eyes weren't obviously filling with tears.

"I thought you wanted coffee? You haven't even touched that."

"I changed my mind." Nico grumbled.

"Nico." Will's voice compelled him to look up, but Nico couldn't meet his eyes for longer than a moment.

"Dr. Solace."

"Will is fine. What's wrong with your arm?"

Nico's heart started to pound, he was sure Will could hear it. "Nothing, just a little sore. I'm fine. Look I really have to...arrggg! Don't touch it."

Will had reached out and attempted to pull Nico's arm forward to get a closer look. "Shit Nico! What that hell!"

"It's broken."

"Then what the hell are you doing sitting in a coffee shop? You need to get that set!" Will voice grew loud and held an almost desperate edge to it.

"I know."

"It could heal crocked, they would have to re-brake it or you could risk being crippled forever!"

"I KNOW!" The waitress looked up from the newspaper she had been flipping through on the counter with her eyebrows raised. Nico's face flushed and he dropped his gaze.

"Then why..."

"I didn't know if you were working." He mumbled in response.

"What does that have to do with anything? I'm not the only doctor in the ER."

"I didn't want to see you."

"You didn't want to...Oh. I get it... I know I can be a little pushy. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." Will sounded dejected.

"No! That's not...I just meant, I didn't want you to know I got in another fight."

Will sighed, "Ah Nico..."

"It wasn't my fault this time. I really wasn't looking for trouble..."

"Its okay, Nikolaos. I believe you."

"What did you call me?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cross a line. It's in your file. I won't use it if you don't want me to..."

"No! I mean... it's alright. You can call me that if you want." Nico felt his face burn. Will smirked back at him. Gods he looked great with a smirk on his face, almost as great as his smile.

"Come on, I'll give you a ride over. Let's get you taken care of."

Will helped Nico rest his wrist against his chest and zipped his jacket over it to keep it in place. He draped an arm over his shoulders and led him outside to his car. Nico shivered, and it wasn't from the cold.