Percy felt something hit his chest, then a loud voice harassed his ears, "You idiot! I told you not to bleed in my car! Yet you can't even accomplish that! You had one job!"
Percy groaned in response. His eyes were still closed, he must have passed out or something. His head pounded and his chin stung, but the nausea was overwhelming.
"I swear you're paying for the clean-"
Before Triton could finish, Percy unbuckled his seatbelt, threw the car door open, and fell out of the car landing on his hands and knee, his stomach emptied all of its contents all over the parking lot.
"Geez what the hell is wrong with you today!" Triton yelled at Percy.
"What's going on over here?" Mrs. Nereid's voice echoed a couple yards away. Percy heard her footsteps come closer and closer.
Triton's car door opened and slammed shut. Percy's head pounded as Triton's heavy footsteps stomped over to where he was at.
"Oh dear lord..." Triton mumbled.
"Triton what's with all the commotion over there?" Mrs. Nereid asked coming closer to the car. Percy saw another pair of shoes round the corner before he heard a gasp, "Oh Percy what happened?"
Percy couldn't respond as she helped him up before leading him away from his expelled lunch. Once she was sure she was far enough away from the vomit, she helped Percy sit back down and leaned him against Triton's car.
"What are you doing just standing there? Go get your father!" Nereid snapped her fingers at Triton, and he sped off after the reprimand.
"What happened? Your pupils are blown and on top of that you're bleeding. Did Triton do this?"
Percy shook his head which made him light headed and nauseated again. He leaned his head back relishing the coolness of the car.
"Ok. Do you know where you are at?" She asked.
He scrunched his brows, "I'm at school."
"No Percy, you're outside of your father's aquarium. We're in the parking lot."
"Oh" He didn't know what else to say as he was sure he was at school. He never believed Mrs. Nereid to be a lier, so he must be at the aquarium. Percy stared up at the sky blinking black spots from his vision.
Poseidon ended his conversation with Nerus as he heard his eldest call for him.
"Daaad!"
Poseidon turned around and walked by the entrance to greet his sons. "How was your first day of school?" He stopped halfway through his question.
"Triton where's Percy?" Poseidon asked once he saw only one of his son's there.
His alarm bells went off from the expression of Triton's face, his eyes were wide and his hands were fidgeting.
"There's something wrong with Percy?" Triton hesitantly spoke.
"What to do mean 'there's something wrong with Percy'?" Poseidon asked frantically.
"He's in the parking lot."
Poseidon wanted to tear his hair out in frustration of the lack of explanation.
Poseidon gestured for Triton to lead the way. He focused on his breathing to keep himself calm as he didn't know what awaited him.
Triton took him to where Triton's car was and he saw Ariel crouching over Percy who's leaning against Triton's car.
Saying that Percy didn't look good is an understatement. He looked out of it, and his chin is covered in blood.
"What's going on over here?" Poseidon asked alarmed by the scene.
"I'm not quite sure, he didn't tell me the events that led to his predicament. I suspect he obtained a head injury, as he is experiencing common side effects of a concussion; vomiting, blown pupils, and loss of memory. Not to mention the nasty cut on his chin." Ariel informed.
Poseidon lowered himself to be on Percy's level. Percy lazily blinked, barely aware of his surroundings. Poseidon grabbed his phone in his back pocket, and turn on the flashlight. He shined it in his son's eyes to see if the pupils will react to the light.
Percy quickly shut his eyes before Poseidon could even gage if his eyes reacted to the light. Percy lifted his hands of the ground to try to bat the light away, though once his hands left the ground, he lost his balance and began to tilt. Poseidon reached out to try and catch him, but his reflexes were too late and he missed. Percy face planted into the ground.
Poseidon winced at the impact, that must've hurt. "Percy are you okay?" He asked.
There was no response; no movement, and no sounds came from Percy, which raised the hairs on the back of Poseidon's neck. Percy has never been this quiet, well except for the hospital, but that was totally different.
"Percy?" Poseidon called again.
None of the three gathered spoke as they waited for Percy to respond or at least move. Percy only gave them silence and stillness.
They waited a bit to see if Percy would move, but Percy stayed still which was unnerving to the point Poseidon turned him over. His stomach dropped, Percy's eyes were closed and he was clearly unconscious. The wound on his chin reopened and was bleeding sluggishly. Poseidon gave Percy a slight shake to the shoulders hoping that would wake him.
Poseidon looked back over his shoulder, Ariel looked very panicked and concerned. His eyes shifted towards Triton, and his eyes narrowed.
"What did you do Triton?" Poseidon accused him. This wouldn't be the first time he beat Percy up.
"I didn't do anything! I just drove him here and he was like that." Triton threw his hands in the air as if he was surrendering.
"I have a hard time believing that. He had to pass by several teachers and adults if that was the case, and no one stopped him to check him out? Plus wouldn't you have called me before you got here if you saw him in this condition?" Poseidon let out a growl.
"I-I, he wasn't like that once he left. He just gotten worse on the drive here. I swear he was okay when we left school. His chin was bleeding but he was standing up fine and all. He didn't say what happened either."
Triton explained desperate.
Poseidon eyes narrowed further. Triton doesn't appear to seem like he's lying. He smirks every time he lies and there are no traces of a smirk on his face.
"I don't know Poseidon, maybe we should call an ambulance?" Ariel suggested.
"Well he's awake now" Triton pointed out.
Both Ariel and Poseidon snapped their necks to see if Percy was actually awake. Percy's eyes are open, and he's blinking slowly. They both leaned over him to gage if he was okay. He seemed very dazed, his eyes were wandering between Ariel and him.
"Do you think you can handle sitting up?" Poseidon asked. There was a pause before Percy slowly nodded. Poseidon and Ariel grabbed Percy's arms lifting him until he was leaning against Triton's car. Poseidon's eyes scanned Percy up and down, he definitely needs to be looked at by a medical professional.
"Triton go bring my car over here". Poseidon reached in his pockets to feel for his keys. Once he found them, he tossed them in Triton's direction without looking, "I'll drive him to the emergency room."
He didn't need to look to see if Triton was heeding his orders, he instead kept his eye on Percy. Percy didn't hold his gaze as a spot on the pavement kept his mind occupied. It's obvious that Percy didn't want to make eye contact, whenever it's from embarrassment or the injury Poseidon will never know.
"Are you gonna tell us what happened or are we just gonna keep guessing?" Poseidon asked.
"I fell down a flight of stairs at school". Poseidon barely made out what his son mumbled.
"I thought they told me you will have free access to the elevator?" Poseidon frowned. He had spoke with the administrators at school, and they promised him Percy will have an elevator pass.
"I do."
Poseidon raised a brow. There's no reason for Percy to take the stairs if he had an elevator pass. Unless he was too embarrassed and thought he could take the stairs like everyone else. "Then why did you take the stairs?"
Percy paused before answering. Poseidon knew whatever came out of Percy's mouth won't be the full truth. Both of his sons have a distinct tail of lying that Poseidon had mastered over the years, Triton has a smirk while Percy averts eye-contact. Percy averted eye-contact before he answered, and Poseidon could only pray that whatever Percy held back didn't evolve Triton. "I was chewed out by a teacher for being late to class due to a traffic jam, they told me to take the stairs next time, so I did."
Poseidon gaped at that absurdity. A teacher would say that? Poseidon couldn't believe it.
Ariel didn't look as surprised as she rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, it was Miss. Dodd's right?" She asked.
Percy nodded, Poseidon turned to Ariel to ask her for more details about this so called teacher. Ariel waved him off, "I'll tell you more later."
And Poseidon will hold her to that. He needed to know more about this Miss Dodds teacher. Though before he could try to picture what this teacher is, his car pulled in next to them. Triton parked it and got out.
"Alright Percy lets get you out of here." Poseidon said grabbing Percy by the biceps to help him get to his feet while Ariel grabbed his crutches.
Percy started to sway once he stood upright and Poseidon tightened his grip on Percy's bicep to make sure he didn't fall over. Poseidon grew increasingly concerned over his son, as his health wasn't improving but it was deteriorating.
Poseidon slowly helped Percy to sit in the passenger seat and shut the door. He turned around to give his thanks to Ariel. Without her he would've been stuck with Triton, and Triton is always incompetent or uncaring when it comes to Percy.
Ariel waved, "No problem. I always make it a priority to watch out for my students. I'll make a complaint about Miss. Dodd's tomorrow morning. I doubt anything will be done about it though."
Poseidon thanked her again, leaving a mental note in his head to ask her about Miss Dodds the next time she volunteers.
Poseidon turned to Triton who is just standing by his car with his hands in his pockets. Poseidon rolled his eyes at his lack of help, "Go ask Nerus what needs to be done and inform him that I will not be returning tonight."
Triton nodded with a shrug and headed towards the building with Ariel.
Poseidon got in the car, buckling up. He turn to Percy who looked pale, Poseidon took a breath then asked, "Did you really fall down a flight of stairs?"
Percy frowned, "Yes, I smacked my head against the the wall during the fall." He demonstrated by lightly smacking his hand onto his head where he hit it in the fall. Percy grimaced in regret as the demonstration created a new wave of pain.
Poseidon rolled his eyes at his stupidity, but luckily Percy didn't see it, "Alright I believe you. Must of smacked that head pretty hard, you were unconscious for a solid three minutes after you face planted a couple of minutes ago."
"Oh". Percy's face drained of the little remaining color it had in it, and his eyes were fluttering shut. Poseidon stomach dropped, there was no doubt in his mind that Percy obtained a more serious injury than what he first thought. He's going have to speed to the emergency room if he wanted to ensure Percy didn't deteriorate any further.
"You're gonna need to try and stay awake for me until we can get you to a hospital. Your head injury seems severe, I don't want to take any chances."
Poseidon pulled out of the parking lot and headed on the road. There's an emergency room fifteen minutes away, if he sped he could make it in five.
Poseidon fought the urge to look away from the road to check on Percy. The last thing he needed is for another car crash, and he thinks Percy will appreciate it if his father kept his eyes on the road.
Nevertheless, he made it to the emergency room's parking lot in record time. Poseidon turned the keys to shut off the car as Percy was blinking to try to stay awake.
Poseidon offered a hand to help Percy to walk with crutches, but Percy shrugged him off. Poseidon walked behind him making sure he doesn't make another tumble.
As soon as they walked in, Percy headed towards the direction of the chairs. Poseidon however, headed towards the front desk.
"Hello, my son is here to be checked out. I suspect a head injury and he has a cut that probably needs stitches." He informs the lady behind the desk.
"What is your son's name and his age?" She asked her nails clicking as she typed on the keyboard.
"Perseus Jackson, he goes by Percy. He'll be sixteen tomorrow."
"What a way to spend someone's sweet sixteen. I'm going to have you sign these papers, sir. They're just medical history and insurance forms."
She handed him the forms and he took them. He had to fill these exact forms when Percy was in the accident, so he knew what he was filling out.
Poseidon sat down next to Percy and grimaced, these chairs are nothing like the San Francisco hospital chairs were. These were hard plastic while the ones in California had at least some sort of cushion.
Poseidon froze from the blank he was filling out. Percy rested his head on his shoulder which sent the red flags to go off. Percy was never the cuddling type, he hated any sort of physical affectionate contact. Frankly, the last time Percy had done this was when he was eight and was ill with influenza.
"You're not falling asleep on me are you?" Poseidon asked slightly panicked.
Percy huffed out a no and continued to watch as he filled out his information onto the papers. Poseidon hurried to get the forms filled out, the faster Percy can get checked out, the better.
Poseidon heard Percy groan as he got up to returned the filled forms to the front desk, he paid no mind to it. The lady at the desk took one look at Poseidon's face before informing him she'll grab a nurse.
Percy had his head resting on the back of his chair, Poseidon took back his seat next to him.
"Good news is that we won't have to wait long Percy. They're calling over a nurse to take you back to go get looked at."
Percy didn't move, he kept his head tilted up looking at the ceiling. A young nurse in her twenties came with a wheelchair in hand to the waiting room.
"Perseus Jackson?" She called.
Poseidon started to get up, glancing over his shoulder to see if Percy will make a fuss about the wheelchair.
Percy still sat in his position as if he didn't hear the nurse call his name. Either it's his show of defiance because of the wheelchair, or he literally didn't hear her.
"Percy? Let's go." Poseidon called.
There's isn't as much of a flinch coming from him. He's lost in his own world while silently staring at the ceiling.
Poseidon bent down to shake him out of it, "C'mon Percy, let's go. I swear if you don't snap out of I'll... Perseus I swear..."
Luckily enough that worked. Percy blinked and rubbed his eyes. Poseidon helped him into a proper sitting up position, "Oh thank the lords. Percy come on let's get you checked out."
He offered his hand not expecting Percy to take it, but to do out of courtesy. To his surprise Percy took it, and he didn't make a peep at the wheelchair. Poseidon felt his face drain at any color it had, Percy wouldn't even entertain the thought of a wheelchair, unless the situation is dire. Percy did lower his head to avoid the gaze of the others in the waiting room, and Poseidon sneered at them. Had they not learn that it is rude when you stare at people?
The nurse started to wheel him to the back rooms. She wheeled him to a corner that had a gurney and pulled the curtains closed.
"Alright I'm just gonna take your blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate." She pulled out by the blood pressure machine and attached it to Percy. She took Percy's blood pressure, temperature, and his oxygen saturation. Poseidon sat back and watched as he've done this several times the past few months.
"Good. A doctor will be with you shortly. Go ahead and lay in the stretcher while you wait."
The nurse left and he helped Percy lay down on the gurney. Percy kept his silence and Poseidon let him continue his ritual of staring at the ceiling.
"Uncle P what did little cuz do now? Haven't seen you two in over a year, it's been too long."
Poseidon inwardly groaned. Of course he had to choose the one hospital his nephew was working at. Poseidon warily took in his overly energetic nephew appearance as he wore one of the white coats the doctors seem to be attached to. The white coat didn't stand out as much as the over obnoxious neon yellow scrubs he had underneath.
Poseidon furrowed his brow in confusion. He knew that Apollo is gifted after he heard his sister say he was graduating med school this year, which normally took eight years to complete but he is finishing it at four years. The question is did that change, or why is he here if he didn't graduate?
"I thought you didn't graduate med school until May? Did I miss something?"
Apollo glanced up from the tablet he brought in, "Nah, I work as a intern here. But good news that I can graduate in December because I'm just that smart. Anyways Percy came in here for a head injury, correct?" Poseidon nodded and let him continue. "Ok let's- Holy shit your leg's missing!"
Apollo had wide eyes as he glanced between Percy and Poseidon. Poseidon winced and fought back the urge to scratch his neck.
Percy snorted and turned his head so he could look at him, "You didn't tell anyone what happened did you?"
Poseidon let out a sheepish smile, "No I didn't. Haven't really spoken to anyone since April. I should probably call Hestia..."
Apollo gotten over his initial shock as he put a pen behind his ear and shook his head. "No one tells us anything anymore. Alright, about the head, what happened?"
"I might of fell down the stairs."
"You did? What are you symptoms? Do you have any nausea? Loss of vision? Loss of conscious? Memory loss? Anything of that sort? The nurse told me you seemed out of it in the waiting room."
Poseidon responded before Percy could do so to make sure he didn't leave anything out, "Yes to all of the above. He puked in the parking lot of my rescue, forgot where he was, then lost consciousness for about three minutes."
Apollo typed all of it up before looking up with a frown, "All of that by falling down the stairs? How many stairs are we talking here?"
Percy rolled his eyes, "I don't know maybe fifteenish? I wasn't counting them. All I know is that I hit my head on the wall and my chin hit the floor."
Apollo gave Poseidon a glance that told him he didn't believe his story, "Hmm... must have had a lot force behind that fall. I'll take a quick look in your eyes and feel around your head to make sure everything is okay."
Apollo set down the tablet and asked permission to feel around Percy's head. Percy nodded as he ran his fingers gently around his head, hissing once he found a large knot on the back of his skull. Apollo took out a small flashlight and shone it his eyes.
"I suggest an MRI scan to be done to check his head. I don't think the cut on his chin needs stitches, I think it can be glued together. But again technically I'm not a doctor yet so I have to consult with higher ups to finalize his treatment plans. I'll be back shortly." He left the little area, Poseidon sighed as they had to wait a bit longer.
Though the peaceful silence was cut short due to Poseidon's phone ringing. Thinking it was another rescue call he was about to forward it to Nerus, then he saw the name.
"Shit... it's Hestia".
He's been ignoring all calls from his siblings for the past few months. Mostly it was Hestia who was calling, but he's seen a few missed calls from both Zeus and Hades. Poseidon just didn't have the energy to explain what has happened to them. It was easier to just decline their calls. He would've sent her back to voicemail, but after seeing Apollo he knew he couldn't hide forever from his family.
"My dear sister, it's been too long." Poseidon made his voice as cheerful as possible.
"Poseidon! I thought you were dead! You haven't picked up the phone in over three months! I tried to call Amphitrite and she gave me very vague answers regarding where you've been. I don't have time tonight to go on a full blown lecture, so I'll let you off the hook until tomorrow. As for why I'm calling I just got off the phone with Jason and Thalia."
Poseidon raised a brow, she wanted to talk about Thalia and Jason to him? "Ahh you talked to Jason and Thalia today. How are the brats?"
"Yes, I called about their first day of school, they've mentioned Percy."
"They mentioned Percy?" How did they know about Percy, and what has that have to do with anything regarding their school day?
"Yes they did. Apparently they saw Percy in school. He's still here in New York? And what is this car accident in May I hear them talking about?"
He closed his eyes as he vaguely remembered Triton saying something about Thalia attending the same high school as him a couple years back. That detail slipped past his mind in the last couple of months.
Poseidon sighed, "Yeah he's here in New York. I was going to tell you I swear-"
"What happened Poseidon? You haven't picked up your phone in three months! Not to mention I had to find out from my niece and nephew that Percy was in a car accident in May. I should being hearing these things from you."
She's right as always, "I know its been three months but things just settled down a bit"
Poseidon stayed silent as his sister a loud exhale from the line, "Well, when can we come over and see him?"
"You want to see him?" He ran his hand over his face.
"Yes. That's what I said."
Poseidon could tell Hestia starting to get frustrated on the phone, "Well there's been an accident today".
"Accident? What kind of accident? Why am I hearing this now? Poseidon at least tell me it's not severe."
"No it's nothing too severe I think, but we're at the emergency room." He said while rubbing his eyes.
"You think? In my books if you have to go to the emergency room, that counts as severe. Poseidon this behavior of not telling you own family members of what's going on is unacceptable."
Poseidon sighed, "Yes sister, I know."
"You better. Well now I have to deal with Hera. She's furious at the moment, and will probably call you soon."
Poseidon rolled his eyes, "What does Hera have anything to do with this? Tell her to mind her own business."
"She overheard Thalia and Jason talking with me, and she thinks she was kept out of the loop on purpose. I don't think I can convince her that none of us knew, she's adamant that only she didn't know."
"Anyways, Percy's birthday is tomorrow. I already sent him a card address to his San Francisco apartment, hopefully it gets returned to sender since I didn't know he was in New York. Is it okay if I come over tomorrow to see him? Will he even be home?"
Poseidon cringed with guilt that she actually sent the card to the wrong address, "Yes you can come over tomorrow, but don't you dare bring Hera. I mean it Hestia. I don't need a lecture from her on how a family should behave."
"I'll see what I can do, but it's your fault if she comes over. I can't control what she does, but the chances of her showing up would've been lowered if you would've informed us earlier. Tell Percy I'll be there tomorrow. We need to have a long discussion tomorrow, you have some explaining to do."
Poseidon resisted the urge to sigh, "Yes I'll tell Percy."
"I have to go, Hera just called me three times. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Alright see you tomorrow. Good night Hestia."
"Good night Poseidon."
He hung up and look at his phone with a sigh, "Hestia is joining us for dinner tomorrow. Apparently Thalia and Jason told her about school and how you were there. Hera overheard them talking and now is throwing a fit about not being informed personally and is now telling everyone what happened."
Percy snorted, "It has been months since the accident. Did you think they would just accept not being told something this significant? You should have seen Thalia and Jason's face after seeing me today."
Poseidon buried his face into his hands, "I know I should have said something. But I wasn't in the correct head space to do so then. I didn't even know what to do, the thought to contact them never really passed through my mind then."
Poseidon didn't even bother to lie, and spoke honestly. He was lost in that hospital. The first few days were torture not knowing what the extent of Percy's damage was, the dread of informing him of his mother's death crushed his soul. Frankly, Poseidon's siblings were the last thing on his mind.
Apollo and another doctor entered the small closed off area. Apollo quickly explained what needed to be done to the senior doctor, while the more experienced doctor nodding eagerly as he list out the treatment.
A MRI scan and to glue the cut on his chin was decided. They quickly glued the cut on his chin shut, and they wheeled him to the MRI room.
Poseidon got up to follow but Apollo pulled him aside, "Uncle P, what happened?"
"Well he told me he fell down the stairs-"
"Not that. Well I don't really believe that either, but I'm talking about his leg."
Poseidon sighed and watched the nurse wheeling Percy off around the corner.
"He was involved in a serious car accident in May. His femur and knee cap were completely shattered leaving amputation the only valuable option. We just got back from the San Francisco Hospital last week."
Apollo blinked while letting out a exhale, "Do you need any referrals for a physical therapist? I wish I would've known sooner, I could've got you bumped up in the waiting list with the best of the best physical therapists."
"Thanks, but I've already have one lined up. He has an appointment next week with them. Hopefully nothing about today will cause a setback."
Apollo grimaced, "I cannot guarantee that it won't. Percy has a nice goose egg on his head, I don't know the extent of the head injury, the MRI will give us more details."
Poseidon let out a sigh at non-reassurance his nephew relaid.
"Why is he here anyways? I get that you flew to San Francisco because of his injury and it was your time of year, but why is he here? Did you get a reset in your custody and he spends only one semester here? Will he fly back out to California in January?" Apollo crossed his arms.
Poseidon swallowed and squirmed uncomfortably, "No he'll be here to he's at least eighteen. Sally and Paul were also in the car, they didn't make it."
Apollo's mouth opened in shock before he quickly shut it, "Oh that's... well shit... You know what, I'm going to see if I can get a peak at the images coming from the MRI. I'll come back with news about the scan."
Apollo quickly strode away in the direction Percy went.
Poseidon leaned against the wall and shoved his hands into his pockets waiting for the results.
Percy has a moderate to severe concussion. Apollo said it was lucky that Percy didn't have any bleeding of the brain.
Poseidon had his eyes glued to road as he drove Percy back home. He kept the music off, he knew any noise or light is absolute torture.
Poseidon remembered when he had a concussion when he was around Percy's age. Zeus tackled him into a tree playing football and his head smacked against the trunk of the tree. It was one of the most miserable weeks of his life.
Percy wasn't talkative so he kept his mouth shut. He had his suspicions he was leaving something out of his story, but didn't press.
He'll be pulling Percy out of school for the week. Technically he should've done that from the start. Percy just had gotten back from the hospital last week, and it is too soon for him to go back to school. Percy wouldn't really be missing much, since his concussion wouldn't allow him to do any work.
Poseidon pulled into the driveway and saw his wife waiting by the front door. Poseidon pushed down the dread he felt by seeing her. He has been sending her texts of Percy's condition and her responses have been short and condescending. For whatever reason she's insulted that Poseidon spent the evening with his ailing son at the emergency room.
Poseidon let Percy get out of the car first and followed behind him making sure he didn't fall with his crutches. As they got closer to the door, the frown on Amphitrite's face became visible. He let out a silent exhale waiting for the inevitable fight that's going to occur.
Poseidon led Percy to sit at the kitchen table to give him some pain killers and anti-inflammatory medication the physicians prescribed. Percy shoved the medication into his mouth and almost drowned himself with the glass of water, which gave Poseidon a big indication of how he really felt.
Poseidon turned around to face his wife and quietly go into further detail about Percy's condition. Her efforts to try to restrain the unwarranted anger were in vain, which made his blood boil underneath. Why does his son anger her so much? What has he done to warrant her wrath?
Amphitrite left the room stomping her way up to our bedroom. He rolled his eyes at her behavior. He turned back to to his son and sat across from him at the kitchen table.
"I've decided you're staying home for the rest of this week, maybe stay home the next week too. I think we might have rushed school on you too soon. I'll be home as well this week, and put Nerus on call again so I can monitor you."
Poseidon watched Percy mutely nod, but his expression turned sour. It was obvious that Percy didn't like the suggestion of having his father staying home and supervising him. Though Poseidon thinks it's completely fair, his first day of school he got a concussion and had to get his chin glued shut. He needs some supervision if what he said was really true about taking the stairs when he had an elevator pass.
Apollo - The God of medicine will be a doctor. He has skipped several years since of his intelligence, making him one of the youngest doctors graduating. Med school usually takes up 8 years which Apollo has done in 4 years.
The mention of Percy having Influenza is a chapter in Wherever It Floats.