Chapter 25: Grief is not linear.

He wasn't dead. No one whose lungs ached as badly as his did could possibly be dead. Leo lay in the darkness his closed eyelids provided, trying to remember...anything.

He and Cal had picked up the kids. They'd gone to the museum. There was...there was a telekhine...

Leo's head ached as the events from earlier flooded into his brain. The telekhine riddled with purple energy. The quake. Running...running. The smell of burnt fur and kindling flesh.

A wave of nausea washed over Leo, and he swallowed heavily, feeling bile hit the back of his throat. After his stomach quieted, he glossed over the wolves. He remembered...sinking into blackness. And then...Nico. Nico holding him and...then nothing.

Warily, Leo opened his eyes, blinking rapidly until the blurred surroundings came into focus. White ceiling. A comfortable and warm bed. A countertop running the length of the wall opposite the bed, numerous drawers tucked away underneath. The infirmary. Recognizing the room, Leo pushed himself into a seated position and reached a hand up to brush the hair from his eyes. A soft snore pulled his attention to the bed next to his.

Nico.

The son of Hades lay sprawled on top of the sheets, sock-covered feet hanging over the foot of the bed. He lay face down, his head turned to the side facing Leo. His dark hair had come loose, several strands falling over his pale face. Dark circles ringed his closed eyes. He lay atop his left arm, his hand clutched around something at his throat. Leo frowned from where he sat. Is that a necklace?

Leo watched as Nico's face twitched in his sleep, and he mumbled, "Shut up Zag."

The son of Hephaestus grinned bemusedly and chuckled. The laugh caught in his raw throat, and his lungs spasmed. What had before been an expression of mirth turned to pain as the coughs wracked his body. After several seconds he became aware of a hand moving in small circles on his back. Leo opened his clenched eyes and took a cautious breath as the fit subsided.

The hand paused momentarily but then resumed rubbing his back. "Do you want some water?" Nico's voice was thick with sleep- husky and not altogether unpleasant.

Leo felt a blush starting in his cheeks and he nodded hastily, croaking out, "Water would be great."

Nico's hand fell away from Leo's back. He watched as the boy came into view and crossed the room to snag a jug of water and an empty cup from the countertop. When the demigod turned, Leo caught Nico's eyes, and a grin broke across his face despite the pain in his throat.

"Well, aren't-" Leo's throat tightened, and another fit of coughing escaped his mouth. Nico poured water into the cup and set the jug on a table next to the bed, holding the cup to Leo's lips. Leo took a hesitant sip. The cool water soothed his parched throat, and he placed a hand over Nico's to tip the cup so he could drink more deeply. Once Leo had drained the cup, he released his grip and Nico pulled the cup back, filling it once more. He offered it to Leo, but the son of Hephaestus shook his head and grinned tiredly. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes."

Nico set the glass on the table and looked down at Leo, eyebrow raised.

"I didn't realize that you missed me so much."

Leo looked up at the son of Hades in confusion. It's not that he hadn't missed the boy, but...

"Huh?"

Nico crossed his arms across his chest. "I mean, you were pretty close to visiting my father prematurely. I thought I was the only one who had a death wish."

Leo felt a sheepish expression fall across his face. "Oh. Yeah. That."

Nico's eyebrow raised another notch. "Yeah. That."

"I didn't really mean to wipe myself out...I just wasn't really-"

"Thinking?" Nico supplied. "Yeah. I get it." The son of Hades turned, taking a step away from the bed, but Leo reached out and grabbed his hand.

"Please don't go."

Nico turned, a look of surprise washing across his face. "I'm not leaving. I was just going to sit down."

"Oh," Leo said, his cheeks reddening before releasing Nico's hand. His expression hesitant but hopeful, the son of Hades studied Leo. Finally, he nodded as if deciding something and moved toward the foot of Leo's bed, settling himself on top of the covers and bringing his legs up so that he sat cross-legged.

Nico bit his lip before asking, "So, did...did the kids miss me?"

Rolling his eyes heavily, Leo answered, "Pretty sure Celia was getting ready to run away to go find you. She asked about you every single time I went to Dayspring. Honestly, I think she wishes I was the one who had left." Leo caught Nico's eyes and held his gaze for a moment before looking away and saying, nonchalantly, "Everyone missed you. I missed you."

Pink tinged Nico's cheeks, but he seemed pleased-the corners of his mouth quirking up subtly. "I...it's good to be back."

Leo grinned. "Aw, that's all, man? You didn't miss me?"

The pink in Nico's cheeks deepened into a true blush. "I, well-"

Leo's grin grew as Nico stammered. He waved a hand through the air. "It's fine, Ghost Boy. I know you missed me."

Nico visibly relaxed. His fingers traced a pattern on the surface of the blanket. "So...are you okay? I mean, you weren't trying to get yourself actually hurt, were you?" Nico quickly looked up at Leo and back down again but not before the son of Hephaestus saw the worry in the other boy's eyes.

"What? No- no, of course not. Why would you think that?"

Nico shrugged but, after a moment, answered. "I don't think you would intentionally, but..."

"But what, Ghost Boy?"

Still refusing to meet his eye, Nico said, "When I'm unhappy, I know I tend to push myself too far and don't really care about the consequences." Finally, Nico looked up at Leo, an unsure expression flitting across his face. "Are you okay?"

Leo opened his mouth to reassure Nico but stopped, taking stock of the situation himself.

Am I okay?

Slowly, Leo answered, "I don't think I'm unhappy. I just haven't practiced much. I don't think I realized how much energy fighting off the wolves was going to take."

"Why?"

"Eh, it's not really so simple to answer, Nico."

The son of Hades stared at Leo, one eyebrow raised. "I'm not going anywhere."

Leo sighed, trying to find a way to stop talking about the subject. "I just...fire puts people on edge, okay? And it gets out of hand real quick, ¿entiendes?" Nico nodded and Leo continued. "If I start something and it goes wild and-and someone gets hurt, it'll be my fault."

Nico shook his head, his voice laced with confusion. "But shouldn't that make you want to practice more? So that you don't lose control of the fire?"

"And what?" Leo's voice sounded strange to his own ears–strained and somewhat higher than usual. "How can you guarantee I won't lose control of the fire? What if it happens while I'm practicing? What if I get lost in it and can't stop? Every time I start, I don't want to stop–I want to keep going. I want to see if I can burn. Can I? Ever?"

Leo's voice cracked but he kept going. "I wanted to so badly after–when I was–I tried. But it never worked. I can still smell her, even after all these years. And on the roof, the wolves smelled just like her. But I guess everything dying in a fire smells the same." A slight edge of hysteria had entered Leo's voice. He opened his mouth to continue, but Nico reached forward and brought his cool fingers to rest against the back of Leo's neck.

"Just take a deep breath, Leo. Okay?"

But Leo's lungs refused to cooperate and his breathing turned shallow and harsh. The son of Hephaestus began to feel dizzy, his face growing cold. The edges of his vision had started to turn black when he felt cold hands cup either side of his face. He wrenched his eyes open–when did I close them?–to see Nico gazing at him, warmth and compassion filling his dark irises.

"Breathe with me, okay, Leo? Just focus on me and my voice. Nothing else."

Leo watched as Nico breathed in deeply through his nose, held it, and then purposely blew out through his mouth.

"Can you do that with me, Leo?"

Leo nodded jerkily against Nico's hands and the other boy smiled. Nico breathed in again and Leo followed his lead, sucking in a quick breath and holding it as Nico did. He forced the air out through his lips and, on the next breath, was able to pull air in through his nose. As he held it for a second time, he felt his heart begin to quiet from the crazy racket it had been making against his chest. After several more rounds of breathing in, holding it, and blowing out, Nico smiled again.

"That's really good, Leo." Nico held Leo's gaze before slowly dropping his hands. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Leo clenched his eyes shut and shook his head violently.

"Alright, alright." Nico's voice was quiet and unassuming as he sat next to Leo. He reached out and gently touched Leo's shoulder. "How about we talk about something else?"

Leo took a deep breath and opened his eyes, staring straight at Nico. "How...how did your mission go? For...with Zagreus?"

"Oh, well," Nico started, caught off-guard. "It...went? I don't think it was–well, there were good parts and bad parts."

"Did you figure out what happened? About, why you were down there in the first place?"

Nico frowned. "Yes and no. We found Hypnos, at least."

"I thought...aren't we not supposed to say their names?"

"I think usually we're not supposed to, but...Zagreus said that a lot of stuff can't be overheard by the gods at Camp Half-Blood because it's technically Mr. D's domain. Right now, anyway. I had to get beyond the borders for them to even see...after Jason..." Nico shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. "Anyway, I think the Waystation is the same since it's technically Britomartis' domain. It's a theory, anyway."

Leo shrugged. "Alright. So you found Hypnos. What did you find out? Why was he gone? Did you find out about the others?"

Nico smiled ruefully. "That's a lot of questions. We didn't find out too much, honestly. We know that some of Nyx's children have already made it to her mansion. He didn't give a reason because Nyx didn't give a reason."

"Huh. Well, that's interesting. I guess. What else happened? Why didn't you message me you were coming home?"

Nico groaned. "You ask more questions than Zagreus. A lot happened. I'm honestly still trying to take most of it in. I tried to let you know, but by the time I got my hands on paper, you had already left for the museum."

Frowning, Leo asked, "Why didn't you have paper? I thought you brought a whole notebook with you when you left?"

"I...lost it."

Leo looked at the son of Hades, waiting for an explanation.

Sighing, Nico said, "It fell. My whole pack fell."

"Fell where?"

Nico looked at the blanket and traced his finger across the top of it. "In a hole."

"Why didn't you just reach in and grab it?"

"It was a sinkhole." Nico shuddered slightly and looked across the room.

"Oh." Leo paused for a moment and then asked, "There are sinkholes in the Underworld?"

Nico nodded and hesitated before adding, "It wasn't supposed to be there. At least, Zag said it wasn't. He said the Underworld was...shifting. Changing. I didn't quite understand, but things were definitely off. The sinkhole was something new. It led to Tartarus."

Leo's eyes widened. "Your backpack fell all the way to Tartarus? Guess there's no getting that back then, huh?"

Nico shook his head and began to continue speaking when Leo interrupted. "Do you think Tartarus is staging a coup? Like Gaea did? The telekhine at the museum said there was fighting in Tartarus. Maybe that's what's going on."

Thinking about it, Nico shook his head. "I don't think that's what happening here." Nico turned his attention to Leo, shifting closer to the demigod until his leg rested against Leo's. "What else did the telekhine say?"

Leo swallowed heavily and tried to ignore Nico's leg pressing up against his. "Uh, it was talking about the fighting in Tartarus and that it couldn't make it to the Doors of Death but that it was able to get back through cracks? Lines? I don't completely know, but they weren't there until the fighting and shaking happened. It said that 'silver eyes' and someone else helped him find the lines."

Nico chewed on his lip, looking as if he was on the edge of a breakthrough. "Ley lines, right? That's what Cal said. I wonder if..." Nico shook his head and turned his attention back to Leo. "And the telekhine was covered in the energy too, right? The purple stuff?"

Leo nodded. "Yeah, but...what does that have to do with anything?"

When Nico didn't answer, Leo said, "Let me guess. Part of the prophecy?"

Nico nodded and Leo shrugged. "Alright. Well, I'll help as much as I can, but I won't get very far not knowing what we're even talking about. Not that I'm pushing or anything, but–" He stopped and stared as Nico pushed himself up from the bed. "Wait– where are you going?"

"Nowhere," Nico offered over his shoulder. "Just looking for a piece of paper."

Nico crossed the room and began to open the drawers of the counter that lined the opposite wall. He rummaged through each drawer, shutting it when he realized it didn't hold what he needed. Finally, Nico exclaimed in triumph on the fifth drawer and withdrew a pad of paper followed shortly by a pen. Smiling, he crossed the room and sat down next to Leo. He pulled his feet in toward him and uncapped the pen, putting the cap onto the other end before setting the tip to a new page of the pad.

Leo tried to see what the boy was writing and began to ask, but Nico said "shh" and kept writing. Then, after a minute, Nico pulled the pen away from the paper and ripped the page from the notebook. He hesitated only a moment before thrusting the paper into Leo's lap.

"Read it."

Leo looked down at the lined paper with Nico's tidy scrawl.

Another battle, a ceaseless war

Like all the countless ones before...

Leo looked up from the paper to stare at Nico in shock. "But...but this is the prophecy."

Nico nodded. "I told you. I trust you. Happy Thought Number Two, remember?" Nico gestured to the paper. "Go on, read it."

The son of Hephaestus took up the paper again and read through it, eyebrows drawing downward. After he finished, he immediately read it again and then looked up at Nico. "That's not a very cheerful-sounding prophecy. Why can't they ever be cheerful? I mean, seriously? Why are they always so horrible?"

Nico didn't answer, so Leo asked, "Do you know what any of it means?"

Shrugging, Nico almost succeeded in sounding bored when he answered, "Some of it. I think the part towards the end–Unless a sacrifice is made–I think it's talking about me."

"How?" Leo frowned and glanced back down at the line. Unless a sacrifice is made–By fire, madness, or by shade...

"I think I have to make a sacrifice. Fall to fire, madness, or shade. Which makes sense."

Leo shook his head. "Explain to me how that makes sense."

"Well, if I'm in Tartarus, it would be pretty easy to die by fire or my going mad. Or, I could try to use the shadows and become a shade myself."

Leo held up his hand. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. ¡Espera un minuto! You lost me. If you're in Tartarus?"

Nodding, Nico shifted to pick up the paper and look it over with Leo. He pointed to the third and fourth lines. "The abyss? Tartarus is considered the great abyss. Beyond that, well–adjacent, maybe–is Nyx's Mansion of Night, wherever Erebus is–that's true darkness. And, I suppose, other protogenoi. Apollo said he fell to the edge of Chaos when he battled Python."

"No." Leo leaned closer to Nico, peering down at the paper the demigod now held. "I don't think that's right. I mean, maybe about Tartarus, but..."

Nico raised one of his eyebrows. "But what?"

"But, what does it all mean?"

"Well, the first two lines are obvious– 'Another battle, ceaseless war like all the countless ones before.' We're going to have to fight again. I'm assuming it's another war fought on the gods' behalf by demigods. I could be wrong but," Nico shrugged. "I doubt it."

"So, why do you think you'll be the one in Tartarus?"

"Oh, well," Nico started. "The one who falls has already fallen before. And," Nico pointed to several words on the paper. "They have to fall a total of three times."

Leo looked over at Nico, his eyes wide. "Three times? But...who do we know who's fallen three times? You and Annabeth and Percy are the only ones anyone knows who have even made it back falling once!"

Nico met Leo's gaze, his dark eyes heavy with resignation. "You're right. We don't know anyone. Yet."

"Yet?" Understanding hit Leo all at once, and he turned back to the paper, eyes skimming over the lines and muttering them under his breath, trying to find a different meaning to them. "'First long gone in days since passed. Second, for knowledge whole and vast. The final...'"

Leo trailed off and traced a finger across the line. "But..."

"Someone has to fall again. In fact," Nico looked away. "Two more times. Someone who's already fallen once has to fall twice more."

"But," Leo said. "It doesn't mean it has to be you. I mean, what about Percy? Or Annabeth?"

Nico raised an eyebrow. "You want them to go to Tartarus? Again?"

"No! But I don't want–" Leo protested. "I mean, I don't think anyone should go! What are the odds that all three of you fell and made it back? Astronomical! You guys have already beaten the odds, so, I mean, they're not really in your favor anymore, are they? There's got to be a different way."

Nico shrugged.

Leo studied the paper. "Well, if it is you...you're not going alone. Not the third time."

Nico scoffed and tried to pull the paper out of Leo's grasp. "Don't get caught up on that line."

"So you noticed it? Two find an end, Nico. And from the wording here...whoever falls with you– their first time will be your third time."

Nico shook his head stubbornly. "I'm not going to let that happen to anyone else. Annabeth and Percy, they've been through too much to have to be the one to go. And...no one else should have to go down for a first time. And they won't. Not if I can help it."

The pair lapsed into a heavy silence that lasted several minutes before Leo decided to break it.

"Nico. Don't you remember what Britomartis said?"

Nico shifted uncomfortably. "Leo I-"

"She said you'd fail if you continued alone. In light of everything you just shared with me, I have to say...I really think that you have to realize that someone has to fall with you."

"No," Nico started angrily. "I'm not going to put anyone else through that. I'll figure out a way."

Leo didn't push the subject further, neglecting to mention what the Goddess of Nets had told Leo in his room that same night:

"Do not let him fall to ash alone, Leo. He must not fall alone."

Leo smiled over at Nico, seemingly giving in. "Ya, bueno. Whatever you say, Ghost Boy."

The son of Esperanza Valdez had no intention of letting the other boy fall without him.

Nico studied Leo as the boy sat in bed, talking animatedly to Stan and Deacon who had shown up, asking to play a game of Magic. Nico knew, just looking at him, that Leo hadn't given up– hadn't been convinced that no one should fall with Nico into Tartarus. And that worried the son of Hades more than he cared to admit.

Is this how Will felt about me? Trying to keep me safe, knowing all the while that I plan to put myself in danger?

Nico pushed the thought from his mind and shifted his attention to the cards in his hands, barely able to focus on the game. Nothing he held promised any real progress. He ran his fingers along the top of the card "Weave Fate." The card cost three colorless and one blue mana to cast. Nico's eyes drifted over the words.

Weave Fate

Instant

Draw two cards.

Destiny is a flickering path among tangled possibilities.

Nico looked at the card before pulling it and reordering it to the back of his hand. Could the prophecy have more than one path?

Scowling, Nico focused on his next card, "Divination." Two colorless. One blue.

Divination

Sorcery

Draw two cards.

The stars mark your destiny. May you accept the fate thus divulged.

You've got to be kidding me. Lou-Ellen would be having a field day right now. "Accept the cards, Nico! They're trying to tell you something, Nico!"

Nico quickly read the next card and groaned silently. Seven colorless. Two black.

In Garruk's Wake

Sorcery

Destroy all creatures you don't control and all planeswalkers you don't control.

Nico's eyes focused on the text beneath.

Beyond pain, beyond obsession and wild despair, there lies a place of twisted power only the most tormented souls can reach.

"Hey, Nico! You going or what?"

Nico jerked his head up from reading his cards. Deacon frowned at his brother who stared at the son of Hades, an impatient look plastered on his face. "It's just, some of us would like to finish the game before we die of old age."

"Don't be such a jerk, Stan." Deacon outright glared at his brother now.

"Oh? Whatcha gonna do? Not play with me anymore? What a huge loss. What will I do without having to sit through the same boring deck over and over again?" Stan rolled his eyes, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Deacon glowered. "You're an ass. At least my decks allow my turn to go quickly! You don't have to bring a magazine to flip through while you wait for my turns to get anywhere!"

"It's called strategy," Stan spat at his brother. "You wouldn't know the finer points of it if poked you through the eye!"

"Guys, guys, guys. Just chill, okay?" Leo held a placating hand out toward the brothers. "Besides, none of this will matter soon because I'm gonna kick all y'alls butts. So, enjoy the game while you can. ¿Sí?"

"Ahhh," Nico glanced through the rest of his cards before folding his hand. "I think I'm going to go ahead and forfeit. I'm just not really feeling it today."

"What?" The three other demigods looked at Nico as if they misunderstood him.

Deacon looked over at Nico, his eyes wounded. "You're forfeiting? But...do you just not have enough mana?"

Stan looked down at Nico's board, shaking his head. "Plenty of mana. Guy just doesn't want to get board wiped by Leo."

"Hey!" Leo protested. "Don't reveal it if you know it! That's half the fun! What the heck?"

Nico rolled his eyes. "Alright. Well, I already drew so..." Nico looked at his cards once more before placing them face down and gesturing toward the table. "Done. Board's yours, Stan."

Nico didn't focus as Stan tried to play his card "Grand Abolisher."

"Effects?" Deacon asked, squinting at the card. "What does he do?"

"During your turn, opponents can't cast spells or activate abilities of artifacts, creatures, or enchantments."

Deacon scowled. "He's only a two cost? Are you freaking kidding me? Screw that." Deacon looked at his hand and sighed, running his finger along the top of one card. He looked over to Leo, resignation written plainly on his face. "You better have that board wipe, Leo. Take. Him. Down." Deacon turned and stuck out his tongue at his brother, tapping two blue mana and placing his card down. "Counterspell. Bye-bye, Grand Abolisher."

Stan glowered at his brother. "I'll just bring something out bigger and better next time. Or, I'll counter Leo's wipe."

Deacon raised his eyebrows. "Will you, though? What are you going to do with," Deacon looked down at Stan's board, and his face fell. "Oh. You have a lot of untapped mana..."

Stan smirked. "I think I'm going to go ahead and end my turn. Save the rest of my mana for anyone who might be tempted to hurt the board." His eyes flickered over to Leo, who sat with an innocent expression plastered on his face. "Your turn, Deac."

Deacon made a show of frowning as he untapped his lands, drew a card from his library, and looked over his hand. He caught Leo's eye and winked. "I think I'm good with my turn. Take it away, Leo."

Leo untapped his lands and drew a card. Immediately, he placed it onto the battlefield– a Mountain land. "Alright, so–"

Deacon interrupted as a wide grin stretched across his face. "Before you enter your next phase, I'm gonna have to just–" Deacon tapped three of his mana. "And then, Stan, I'm going to direct Mana Short to you. Tap all your lands and empty your mana pool."

Stan's eyes were wide, and he stared down at the card Deacon had placed on the table. "Are you kidding me with this right now?!" He glared at his brother. "I can just counter that, you know."

Deacon raised his eyebrows. "You do what you gotta do, bro. But," the older boy tapped the cards in his hand and gestured to his own mana. "You don't know what other spells I have in my hand. You have enough mana and counters yourself to stop me and Leo?"

Stan scowled. "You're a dick. You know that? Fine. I counter with Complicate. Counter spell unless opponent pays three. So, what're you going to do? Huh?"

Deacon's grin grew. "Win the stack, that's what." The older boy tapped one blue mana and placed a "Swan Song" card onto the field. "Counter target enchantment, instant, or sorcery spell. Its controller creates a 2/2 blue Bird creature token with flying. Any response?"

Stan paled and stared at the stack before spitting out, "You suck."

"I'll take that as a no. So, my spell hits first. Your Complicate is turned into a pretty little birdie, which–" Deacon pulled a card from his box and handed it to his younger brother. "–there you are. Keep that nice and safe over there. And then, my card goes into effect so, go ahead and tap all of that beautiful mana you have left aaaaaand. That's that. Alright, Leo. Go ahead with what you were about to do."

Leo blinked and cleared his throat, glancing between the two brothers. "Uh. Yeah. Sure."

Leo reached toward his cards, tapping every mana he had in play. Then he placed a card face up on the battlefield. "Alright, so, I'm gonna go ahead and cast Decree of Annihilation. Exile all artifacts, creatures, and lands from the battlefield, all cards from all graveyards, and all cards from all hands." He looked up from the card and looked at each player. "Does it resolve?" Stan crossed his arms and sank back into his chair, sulking. Deacon grinned at his brother. Nico looked straight back at Leo, laughter dancing in his dark eyes and a smile tugging at his lips.

Self-consciously, Leo scratched the back of his head. "What?"

Nico shrugged, saying, "Nothing. Just...nice to see you enjoying the game." Nico's smile grew as he watched a blush steal over Leo's face.

Stan stood. "I forfeit. Man, what a waste of a game."

"Oh, come on, Stan. Don't be like that. It was a good game." Deacon gathered his own cards toward him and put them back in their container. "Just because you hate land destruction–"

"It's a dick move. It takes the fun out of the game." Stan palmed his cards and reached for his box.

"Oh my gods. You're so dramatic."

Still squabbling, the two brothers left the infirmary without looking at Leo or Nico.

Nico watched the two boys go while Leo burst out laughing. "Oh, man. I would hate to see them play against the Nike cabin. Can you imagine?"

Nico turned back to Leo, the smile from before hovering faintly on his lips. "Did you have fun?"

Grinning, Leo nodded and turned to Nico. "You?"

Nico nodded and returned his cards to their box, watching as Leo did the same.

The son of Hephaestus reached his hands over his head and groaned as his back cracked. "So, where's everyone else? I would have thought more people would want to come by and see us."

"They've been by. You just weren't awake," Nico said. "You've already been here a little over a day. Your lungs are still in pretty bad shape. Ambrosia and nectar can only get you so far. Since we already have limited reserves...they just wanted you in here just in case."

Leo whistled. "It was that bad, huh? Well, what about you? Why are you still stuck in here?"

Avoiding Leo's gaze, Nico shrugged. "I volunteered. Emmie and Jo didn't want you waking up alone in case of an emergency. I was cleared to go after Cal gave me a once over and had a couple unicorn draughts." Nico glanced up quickly and then ducked his head with a smile. Leo seemed happy at the revelation that Nico had volunteered.

"Where are they anyway? Emmie and Jo?"

"Patrol. They're taking your shifts and mine, now that I'm back and should be on the rotation. I think Lit might be with them tonight?"

Leo hopped back onto his bed, leaning back against the pillows and crossing his arms behind his head. "Olujime? Sssssarah?"

"Studying for his accounting final. I think Sssssarah's helping him." Nico crossed over to his bed next to Leo's and sat down, leaving his feet dangling over the side. "Before you ask, Georgina is cleaning Abelard's loft. Cal's probably up in her garden if she's not resting." Nico glanced at Leo and then down at his own hands. "She stayed here for a while. She was really worried about you."

Leo smiled softly and hummed, tapping fingers against the back of his head.

Nico cleared his throat. "I think everyone was pretty worried."

Leo raised his eyebrows. "Oh yeah? Everyone?"

Biting his lip, Nico looked up at Leo and nodded. "Pretty much."

The son of Hephaestus turned onto his side, propping his head on one hand while the fingers of the other skimmed across the surface of the blanket. "Like...Lit? And Emmie and Jo?"

Nico rolled his eyes and nodded but Leo continued. "And Stan and Deacon? Georgina? Sssssarah, Olujime, and Cal?"

"I said everyone, didn't I?" Nico asked stubbornly.

Leo drummed his fingers against the blankets before softly asking, "Were you?"

The silence that fell between the two stretched on. Nico grabbed his notebook and pen, standing from his bed. Leo looked up from where he had fixed his eyes on the bed, wary as he took in Nico's stance.

"Going somewhere?"

Nico scowled. "Move your legs. I want to sit down."

It took a second for Leo to understand what Nico meant, but Leo sat upright and pulled his legs in as soon as he did. Nico sat on the end of the bed, crossing his legs beneath him much like he had done earlier. He spread his notebook open on his lap and uncapped the pen, ready to write a letter to Hazel and to Mr. D– once again delaying their session. Nico paused, his pen hovering above the blank lined paper.

"Leo?"

The other boy jumped slightly as his name fell from Nico's lips.

"Yeah?"

"I...I was worried. About you."

Leo smiled, a warm and pleasant feeling spreading through his body.

After Nico wrote and sent the letters off, the two boys talked. Leo caught Nico up on the various happenings around the Waystation and Dayspring, and Nico informed Leo of how Zagreus had and hadn't annoyed the demigod. Eventually, Leo's eyelids began to droop and, after several seconds, his head dipped low until it touched his chest, causing him to jerk awake with wide eyes. The third time it happened, Nico rose from the bed and crossed to his own.

"We should both probably get some rest. Emmie and Jo will kill me if they know I kept you up all night."

Leo frowned. "What time did I wake up?"

"Were you awake much longer than I was?" Nico asked. Leo shook his head and Nico continued, "Around three in the afternoon then."

"Em and Jo have been out on patrol that long? Since before three?"

Nico nodded, swinging his legs up onto the bed and laying down on his side so he could look at Leo while they talked. "Apparently, things haven't been the usual fare since the quake. There's a lot more activity– and not all of it Greek or Roman."

"Seriously? But what've–"

Nico yawned and said, "Tomorrow. We can talk about it tomorrow."

Leo hesitated but nodded. "Sure thing. Well, I guess, night?"

"Good night, Leo." Nico lay still for a moment and then groaned. "Shit. I got to get the light." Sighing, he asked, "Do you need anything while I'm up?"

There was no response from the other bed. Nico looked over and saw Leo already fast asleep. He shook his head and stood, crossing the room and turning off the light. Returning to his own bed, he settled in, feeling his own eyelids grow heavy.

Nico was aware he was dreaming from the start of it. And it was one of his favorites- a memory, really. A dream from before, when he and Bianca were safe and happy with their mother.

Nico gazed around the small room, his eyes drinking in the rich red rug covering the hard floor of his room. A small wooden boat carved by his grandfather nestled safely in his hands. He looked upon the small vessel, squinting until he could make out the name carved in the smallest and faintest of letters: Guiscardo. He faintly remembered his grandfather speaking to him as he handed him the boat, pointing out the name: "Better to burn than be captured, Nico."

Nico pushed himself up from the floor and crossed to set the ship gently on top of his small writing desk. He glanced about the room– quaint but warm and clean. Typical trappings for the six-year-old grandson of an Italian diplomat. He walked to the door and pulled it open. Stepping out into the hall, he paused for a moment and closed his eyes, relishing the still air and the quiet murmurs from the street below. He knew if he stood here long enough, he would hear the front door open and close. He wanted to be in the parlor before that.

Nico made his way down the hall and quickly padded down the stairs, following the gentle sound of a hum. He paused for a moment, smoothing his hands over his jumper before taking a deep breath and walking into the sitting room. A merry fire crackled in the hearth and pictures of himself and Bianca decorated the mantle. A woman sat on a low-slung loveseat near the fire, needle and thread in her hands as she darned a hole in a pair of his trousers. Her hair was a rich and warm brown, dark like wood after a rain. Nico knew that Bianca would have looked almost identical to this woman had she lived past thirteen.

Nico took another step forward into the room, the worn floor creaking beneath his feet. The woman stopped humming and looked up, a smile breaking over her face like a wave cresting on the horizon.

"Ah, piccolino. Have you come to keep me company?"

Words tumbled from his lips, as much from memory as anything. "I missed you."

His voice was higher and childish, lyrical Venetian spoken perfectly into the warm air. He heard the front door open and close rapidly behind him and then the quiet rustle of footsteps. He closed his eyes in anticipation, knowing the exact moment she would brush against his arm.

There.

Bianca brushed past him as she walked into the room. She hugged her mother with one arm and pressed a kiss to each cheek.

"Mamma? Can I go see Sofia's new kitten? Please, mamma?"

Maria's laughter was warm and joyful, much like her dark eyes. "Of course, my love. Be back in time for supper, giusto?"

Bianca nodded, excitement flushing her cheeks. She turned and made her way back to the door, stopping to press a quick kiss to Nico's cheek and ruffle his hair. Nico turned his head to watch her go, his heart yearning to follow his sister.

But he hadn't in life. If he tried now, as he had on several occasions, the dream would bleed and break until it twisted away into wakefulness.

Nico turned back and crossed several steps, sinking to the ground to sit by his mother's feet. He leaned back against her legs, closing his eyes as he felt her hand brush the hair back from his face. She resumed her humming and needlework. Nico stayed there, wishing to enjoy the memory as long as possible.

He thought of nothing as he spent the time beside his mother and the warm fire.

Faint words drifted through the window: "Mira, mijo. If I can get this patented..."

Nico frowned. The words played no part in his memory. They drifted, fading in and out like someone adjusting the channel on a radio- the signal fading and picking up.

"...finally catch a break!"

A woman's voice, definitely. But not his mother's. He opened his eyes and glanced upwards at his mother. She glanced down and smiled, setting aside her mending to once again brush the hair from Nico's eyes.

"Your father would be proud of you, too."

Nico frowned and looked around the room, hoping to find the source of the voice and put a stop to it. He so rarely got to be in this dream, this memory. Why did it have to be interrupted?

"That's funny..."

Nico stood up, letting his mother's hand fall away from him.

"...only be a minute."

Nico stayed still for a moment, focusing on the words and listening. Nico jumped as, suddenly, another voice joined the fray– crystal clear and loud.

A child, yelling, "Leave my mother alone!"

The voice was familiar. But then, all too quickly, it was screaming– fear, anger, desperation ringing clear through the child's voice.

And Nico could not stand to hear that voice in pain. And even though he knew it was a dream–must be a dream– Nico ran for the door, desperate to help.

His mother called after him and Nico, tears streaming down his face, willed himself forward and away from her.

The son of Hades pulled the door open and stepped through. Much like when he had found Clovis when he and Reyna transported the Athena Parthenos, Nico willed himself where he wished. Easier than finding a specific person, Nico had no trouble entering the dream of the screaming child. He stepped from the threshold of his childhood home and walked into the unknown.

Nico found himself in a garage– a workshop? Sturdy tables heaped with bits and pieces of machines were laid out in a grid-like pattern. Although the workspace was cluttered, it was clean. A smell of musky machine oil hung in the air. A pair of people– mother and son by the looks of it– worked next to each other at the back of the shop. The woman stood, bent over what Nico realized was a drill bit set. The boy sat next to her, perched on a stool as if he'd launch from it at any moment.

"What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie?" Nico could hear the laughter in the boy's voice, could hear the bright smile.

"No sé, mijo. What do you call it?" The woman's voice was warm and fast.

"So-fish-ticated! Get it?" Nico groaned silently. The kid could give Leo a run for his money with bad jokes.

And just like that, it clicked for Nico. He was in Leo's dream. Nico hesitated only a moment before moving toward the duo. He passed a desk close to the occupied work-table, glancing over at the pile of invoices and scattered assortment of pens, pencils, paperclips, and tacks. A photo in a cheap frame sat on the corner of the desk, and Nico stopped. The photo showed a beautiful woman– built along solid lines with a mischievous glint in her dark eyes, exactly like Leo's. Her black hair was cut into a wedge shape and well-muscled arms wrapped around a boy no older than seven or eight. A slight gap between his two front teeth showed as he grinned in the photo, his hands coming up from beneath to hold onto his mother's arms. Leo.

Nico reached to pick up the frame but stopped. This wasn't his dream. He shouldn't be here. This was Leo's dream, and he was breaking Leo's trust– he was never invited into this dream. He broke in. No matter what his intentions had been.

Nico turned to leave the way he came– to find his way back to his own dream– when the conversation stopped him.

"Mira, mijo! If I can get this patented, we'll be set! Then, people will take me seriously and we'll finally catch a break!"

Nico turned to look at the pair, seeing Leo beaming at his mom with all the trust in the world.

"I'll help you!"

"Ah." Esperanza reached a hand forward and brushed her fingers across Leo's cheek. He leaned into the touch. Nico couldn't remember when he had seen Leo so relaxed and happy. "You help me plenty. ¡Estoy tan orgullosa de ti! Your father would be proud of you, too, mijo."

"Well, let's finish this up and go home, ¿sí?"

The walls shimmered and faded into a mist, and then Nico was standing in a different room. Dingy off-white walls surrounded several mismatched tables and chairs. A couple vending machines lined the walls with bagged chips and sodas. A cheap microwave stood atop a mini-fridge with a dent in the middle of the door.

Leo and his mother stood as if ready to leave. Esperanza patted her pockets and frowned when she realized her keys were missing.

"That's funny. I know I had them." She sighed and looked down at her son. "Wait here, mijo. I'll only be a minute."

Leo's mother smiled and turned, walking through the door and back into the workshop. Nico joined Leo in watching her go. After several moments, Nico flinched in sync with Leo as the door slammed shut and locked itself.

Leo shouted, "Mom?"

A huge crash sounded on the other side of the door and Nico watched, heart in his mouth as the young boy ran forward and began to pound on the door, trying his best to wrench it open. He slapped the door with his open pam and, with an edge of hysteria in his voice, yelled, "Mom!" He tapped his fingers frantically against the metal door. Nico knew Leo used Morse code but didn't know enough himself to make sense of it.

Nico's stomach sank and chills ran up his spine as the next voice spoke.

"She can't hear you."

Nico turned his head, taking in the dark figure of a sleeping woman robed in earth. Gaea.

No, Nico thought. This has gone far enough. He tried to move, to speak– anything to stop the nightmare from playing out, knowing what would happen in the next few moments were the dream to progress. But his feet were glued to the floor. His arms remained motionless by his sides and his tongue stayed still in his mouth.

The scattered protogenoi continued to speak to Leo. Her voice, soft and menacing, washed over Nico and Leo as she threatened the son of Hephaestus' mother. Leo stood his ground and tried to protect Esperanza. When the flames leaped from Leo's body and Gaea disappeared, whatever invisible force that had kept Nico from advancing– from moving and helping– vanished. Nico was free to move. And he had had enough.

Nico strode forward, looking about for Leo in the flames. And even though it was a dream, Nico could feel the intense heat coming from the dancing orange flickering arms of fire. He felt it in his lungs and searing across his skin. But he needed to find Leo.

Eventually, he heard the boy crying by the door, his hand still softly tapping against it in the same pattern, over and over and over.

"Leo."

The boy looked up at him but didn't respond. Tears streaked down his face and Nico's heart tore at the desolate expression pulling across the boy's features.

Nico knelt down and offered a hand. "Come on, tesoro. Let's get you out of here, okay?"

Leo nodded and took Nico's hand, sobbing as the son of Hades pulled him away from the door that led to his dying mother. Halfway across the room, Leo changed his mind and yanked at his arm, trying to break free of Nico's hold– trying to go back to the door. But Leo was still just a child in the dream. Nico swooped down and picked Leo up, holding him in front of him and walking towards the door.

"No, Leo. It's over. It's over."

Out of habit more than want, Leo wrapped his legs around Nico's waist and buried his face in the son of Hades' neck. He didn't move beyond that, but Nico felt tears trickling down his neck and back. They exited the building. Nico could hear sirens wailing in the distance and could just begin to make out the eerie flashes of light reflected against low-flung clouds in the sky. A storm was threatening to break.

Nico spied a tree some ways off. Far enough that the pair would not be seen by prying eyes but not so far that Leo might wake from the dream, disoriented and desolate. Nico began walking toward it and focused on the way the dried grass crunched softly beneath his feet and the way the night air felt against his skin. Eventually, the heavy smell of rain overtook the sooty smoke from the fire, and Nico breathed in deeply.

After less than a minute, they were at the tree. Nico loosened his grip on the young boy, but he clung to Nico's neck, arms interlocked and refusing to part. So, Nico leaned back against the tree and slowly maneuvered to the ground until he sat cross-legged, holding Leo. Little by little, the boy released his hold and the son of Hades until he entirely pulled away from Nico and settled in to sit beside him. The pair sat in silence, watching from afar as the firefighters hurried from the engines and hastened to put out the fire. Leo sniffed and ran the back of his hand under his nose, wiping away both tears and snot. He stared stonily at the burning building, eyes hard and glassy.

"Leo? Are you...are you okay?" Leo remained silent.

"Do...would you...do you want a hug?" Nico cringed inwardly at his attempts to comfort Leo. There was so much uncertainty on Nico's part. Was Leo aware he was dreaming? Did his present-day self understand that Nico was in the dream and not some random teenager? And, how then should Nico proceed to comfort him?

Think, Nico. What did you want– what did you need when mamma died? When Bianca died?

But, looking at Leo, Nico was at a loss. If it had been him, his anger would flare– denial and rage oh so much easier to handle than his own broken heart and traitorous thoughts.

If I wasn't alive, mamma might not have died. If I wasn't alive, Bianca wouldn't have died.

"It's my fault."

Nico pulled away from his thoughts as the young voice spoke softly, breaking in the cool night air.

"Ah–"

Leo stared at the fire and then turned to look at Nico. "It's my fault she's dead. I started the fire."

"No, Leo. It's not your fault. You didn't mean–"

"I started the fire. Me. Doesn't matter what I meant to do. I did it. And now she's dead."

Several tears spilled over, falling in a quick and silent race down Leo's cheeks before dripping off his chin and onto his shirt. Nico watched as the spots where the tears fell darkened as they became saturated with saltwater.

"I should've died with her." A sob ripped from Leo's throat and he said, "I want to die with her. Let me go." The young boy tried to climb to his feet, struggling to move in his exhaustion and shock. Nico snaked a hand forward and grabbed the back of Leo's shirt, pulling him backward. Finally, Leo gave up and fell into Nico's arms, crying full-heartedly. He buried his face in Nico's shirt and wrapped his arms around the son of Hades' waist, not speaking. Only crying.

Nico wrapped his arms around the other boy.

"Shh, tesoro. Shh. It's not your fault. I promise it's not your fault." He rubbed circles on the young boy's back, trying his best to soothe and comfort. Gradually, Leo's sobs subsided into a softer deluge of tears.

"Why?"

Nico's heart ached for the other boy. "Why what?"

Leo didn't look up as he asked, "Why isn't it my fault?"

Nico hesitated but then said, "Your mom died. There's a difference between accident and intention. You did your best in a situation that no one should ever be in. You were motivated by love in a compromised situation. And that is not your fault."

Leo didn't move, but he pressed his lips together until they formed a thin line and his chin wobbled dangerously. He tried to speak several times but stopped. Finally, his lips trembling and a fresh wave of tears trailing down his cheeks, he looked up at Nico and asked, "Do you think she hates me?"

Nico shook his head and pulled Leo into another hug, tears of his own beginning to spill over. "No. No, she doesn't hate you, tesoro. She loved you. More than anything. And she is probably so happy and relieved that you're safe. She wouldn't want you blaming yourself. She loves you, Leo. So, so much."

The two sat together, and it wasn't until the sounds of the fire engines and fighters began to fade, and the shapes of the building in the distance became indistinguishable that Nico realized Leo had fallen asleep in the dream and was more than likely either forming a different dream or waking up. Nevertheless, Nico remained where he was, sitting against the tree and holding a fading Leo, knowing that he would stay until the end.

"Grief is not linear. It's not a slow progression forward toward healing, it's a zigzag, a terrible back-and-forth from devastated to okay until finally there are more okay patches and fewer devastated ones. The mind can't handle emotions like grief and terror for any sustained period of time, so it takes some downtime." – Lisa Unger