Poseidon shifted in his chair again. He's been at the hospital since yesterday and his back is killing him. It just a matter of what's going to put him in his graver sooner, his back or his heart from the stress and worry.
According to Hestia; Percy woke up for a minute last night, but hasn't regained consciousness since. Triton on the other hand hasn't woken due to the amount of sedatives the hospital gave him. The doctors say he'll be under for a couple of days at the very least until his body starts heal properly.
Poseidon rubbed his eyes as a new wave of fatigue swept over him. He's been living off coffee for the last twenty four hours, and neither him or his wife slept since they got the call. Amphitrite hasn't left Triton's side as he switched in between bedsides for both of them. Poseidon cradled his coffee, sitting besides Percy's bed.
He took a sip of his coffee as Percy blinked his eyes open, "Percy, are you awake?"
Percy turned his head towards him, his eyes scanning him up and down confused.
"Can you hear me Percy?"
Percy nodded slowly gazing upon his room. Poseidon closed his eyes remembering Percy's drugged state in California, it's too eerily similar to the accident ten months ago.
"How are you feeling?"
"Mic'waved" Percy muttered hoarsely.
Poseidon paused, "Microwaved? I'm not sure I understand?"
Percy wasn't this out of it with the first accident, Poseidon frowned. Microwaved? How does he know what that feels like?
Percy scrunched his eyebrows, "W's I dreaming? Or did I see H'stia and Hades?"
"Hestia and Hades came down to visit yesterday. They said you woke up for a minute but fell back to sleep. Do you remember?"
"They fl'w?"
"Flew?" Poseidon raised a brow. What did he mean by flew?
"to Cal'fornia?"
Poseidon's frown deepened, "Percy we're in New York."
The doctors warned him that Percy's concussion could possibly affect his memory. He wasn't worried at first as this wasn't Percy's first rodeo, but he wasn't as coherent as he was with the other concussions.
"Why don't you go back to sleep. You might remember more when you wake up again."
For once Percy didn't argue and did what he was told.
Two Days Later
Apollo visited every three hours when he was on shift, which Poseidon quickly grew annoyed with.
"C'mon Uncle P. Admit it, that haiku was good."
Poseidon raised his head from where it was resting on his hands, "Good?"
"You're right I could do better. What about...
The sun is sky high
Your sons are full of life and breath
Your frown needs to leave"
"That's even worse. Full of life and breath?"
"I can come up with another one."
"No! For the love of the gods, no!"
"Why not?! Don't you think Percy would like a haiku?"
"No. I'm afraid your poems will scramble his brain even more. He thinks he's in California."
Apollo nodded his head, "He sustained three concussions in less than a year. I'm not surprised that his memory is still a bit out of place."
"Will they come back?"
"The probability is in your favor Uncle P! It is very rare for patients not to recover their memories. However, I cannot rule that possibility out. For now the doctors will probably put off putting him under anesthesia for a couple more days, or until they can fully gage his head injury."
Apollo turned his head towards Percy as he picked up movement out the corner of his eye. "Percy can you hear us? Are you waking up again?"
Poseidon turned towards Percy who was furrowing his brow before opening his eyes.
"I'm in New York?" Percy asked.
Poseidon felt his hope rise, "Yes! Do you remember?"
"I was in a car accident?"
"You were."
"They had to amputate my leg because of it?"
Poseidon shared a glance towards Apollo, Percy still believes it's May.
"Percy, that was ten months ago back in California."
Percy furrowed his brow once more. Poseidon took pity on his son, it's obvious that Percy didn't recall the last three days. Percy really couldn't even if he tried as the medicine made him drowsy and he was usually only awake for a couple of minutes at the time.
"Go back to sleep Percy." Apollo instructed as Percy's eyes began to unfocus.
Poseidon messed with the blankets on Percy's bed before sitting back on his chair, sipping the coffee as Apollo began to take further notes on Percy's chart.
"I'll go back and chat with the doctor. I'll prepare for his surgery being rescheduled as Percy's memory isn't all there." Apollo nodded at Poseidon before leaving the room.
Poseidon finished the coffee he had in his hands before recycling it in the bin. He sat by his wife next to Triton's side, rubbing her back in support. It may be a long few days.
Five Days After the Accident
Poseidon pushed back a lock of Triton's hair from his face. The doctor said he will remain under sedation for the next two days. Poseidon has been doing coffee runs for himself and Amphitrite, as she hasn't left Triton's side.
Poseidon glanced up to the door to see Percy's doctor; Dr. Solace enter.
"Has there been any improvement?" The doctor asked.
Poseidon left Triton's side and sat down at Percy's, "Not really. He knows he's in New York, but everything is still fuzzy for him."
"Alright, I'm going to wake him up and see if we can proceed with the scheduled surgery in two days."
Dr. Solace put his hand on Percy's good shoulder and started to shake it, "Percy can you wake up for me?"
Percy opened his eyes. "Hi Percy, I'm your doctor. I just need you to answer a few questions. Can you do that for me?"
Percy nodded.
"Good! Can you tell your last name?"
"Jackson."
"Good! How old are you?"
"Sixteen."
"Good! Do you know what state you're in?"
"New York."
"Good! Do you know what month it is?"
Poseidon held his breath as he didn't know if Percy knew the answer, "March?"
"Very good! One more question, do you know why you're in a hospital?"
"A car accident?"
"That is right! I'm just going to check your eyes and I'll leave you alone. I'm going to shine a light in your eyes, don't look directly at it."
The doctor took out a pen flashlight from his front pocket, he shined it in Percy's eyes. Poseidon was surprised Percy let him do that without any pullback.
"You did very good Percy." The doctor reassured him with a smile, before turning to Poseidon.
"I don't see any imminent danger if we give your son anesthesia. I'll schedule your son for surgery in the next two days."
Poseidon nodded, Percy will need further amputation as well as an addition of a metal pipe that will slip around the bone.
"Surgery?" Percy asked once the doctor left the room.
Poseidon sighed running his hand down his face, he wasn't sure if Percy would react well knowing that they will to do further amputation.
"During the impact of the car accident, your prosthetic was jammed against the remainder of your leg, crushing the end of the bone. They're going to have to take a little more off your leg to fix it. They're also going to install a permanent metal tube around the bone to ensure it won't happen again."
Percy frowned, "Does that mean I'll need a new prosthetic?"
Poseidon paused, he wasn't expecting that question. He was preparing himself if Percy got upset with the prospect of loosing more of his leg. Maybe he grew attached with his old prosthetic? He did modify it to be a weapon after all.
"Yes, you'll get a new one. Will you make that one a weapon too?"
Poseidon let out a quiet sigh as Percy didn't remember the modification of his prosthetic. Poseidon wanted answers about it, but would have to wait until Percy regained his full memory.
Poseidon put his hand on top of Percy's head,
"Why don't you get some more rest?"
He could see Percy beginning to get annoyed with the persistence of sleep. Percy didn't argue, but his eyes portrayed what Percy is thinking.
Poseidon leaned back in his chair after Percy fell back to sleep. His back groaned in discomfort, he will need to schedule an appointment to a chiropractor from these chairs. At the time of the first accident, he didn't think he would miss anything from that hospital. However, his back began to plead for the California chairs as they at least had cushions on them.
Six Days After The Accident
Poseidon was working on his laptop, lost to his surroundings until Percy asked a question.
"Triton was in the car."
Poseidon held his breath and set his laptop to the side, putting his attention fully on his son, "Do you remember?"
He wasn't sure if Percy remembered the whole accident or the events leading to the accident? He knew Percy had been alert sometime after the impact due to his prosthetic being released and the weapon being used.
Percy nodded. Poseidon shifted his gaze from Percy to Triton. Triton is still under sedation and his wife was resting while holding his eldest's hand.
"He's to your right."
Percy turned his head to look where he was looking at.
"He... He hasn't woken up yet." Poseidon said rubbing his eyes, the caffeine he ingested started to wear off.
"He wasn't in pain."
Poseidon took his hand away from his eyes, "What?"
Percy turned to look at him, "He wasn't in pain. I don't recall him making any noise after the crash, maybe he already fell unconscious."
Poseidon shivered at the unwanted image it brought him. He pushed Percy's hair back with his hand, "I think you should go back to sleep."
"I was just asleep."
"I know, but you need more rest."
Percy frowned. Poseidon petted his hair trying to lull him back to sleep. He will need more sleep before his surgery to regain strength.
A Week Since The Accident
Percy grimaced as the doctor unraveled the bandage that was wrapped around his stump.
"Sorry, sorry." The doctor apologized as he jostled the stump. The doctor got to the last layer before removing it.
Percy winced at the sight of it, it took on a deeper shade of red and is heavily swollen. Poseidon squeezed his hand in support.
The doctor sighed, "I admit, it's not looking too great. All the reason why we're going to have to do further amputation. I'm going to draw some lines on it, it's just a guide for us once we begin the surgery."
Percy let out another wince as the tip of the cool marker marked his stump. The doctor quickly finished his markings, and capped the marker after he finished.
"Alright, the nurses will come in around five to ten minutes and they will wheel you down to the O R." The doctor gave Percy a smile and a nod to his father before leaving.
Percy leaned back in his bed letting out groans as the doctor's handling of his stump left it throbbing.
Poseidon grabbed the blue surgical hair cap from where the doctor left it on the table, "Lean your head forward."
Percy did as he was bided, and Poseidon placed the cap over his head. Poseidon's hand traveled to his good shoulder and gave a squeeze in support.
"I could really use some water." Percy groaned.
"You know you cannot have anything to eat or drink."
"It still doesn't change the fact that I need it." Percy muttered.
His father didn't comment, instead three nurses entered the room.
The nurse with blonde hair tied up in bun had a needle with medicine in her hand. "This is going help you relax."
Percy watched as the nurse inject the medicine into his IV. In matter of seconds his body went limp and he couldn't gain control over his body.
"I'll see you when you wake up." His father leaned over him and kissed his forehead before the nurses wheeled him out.
The path from his hospital room towards the operating room was a blur. The visuals from passing through the hallways was too stimulating for his mind to comprehend. The blinding light of the O.R. sent spikes of pain through his brain, he closed his eyes to block out the light.
"Three. Two. One." the doctor counted down before the doctors and the nurses lifted him from the bed and onto the narrow table.
The anesthesiologist was by his head taking his hands and putting it above his head. Percy couldn't aid in the process as his limbs felt like they weighed a ton.
"I'm going to put a mask on you, just take a couple of deep breaths and you should be out in a couple of seconds." The anesthesiologist instructed before placing the mask over his mouth and nose.
Percy inhaled the medicine air and his vision dimmed before going completely black.
Poseidon leaned over Triton as his eyes were slightly open.
"Hey buddy!"
"Hey baby. How are you feeling?" Amphitrite cooed brushing his hair back from his face.
Triton didn't answer them, instead his eyes rolled back and he was unconscious again.
Amphitrite turned to look at her husband, "Should we go get a doctor?"
"There really isn't a need to as Triton was only awake for a second. They probably wouldn't do anything until he can be awake for longer than two minutes. We can inform them when the doctors come back."
Amphitrite nodded and latched on to her son's hand, squeezing it.
Poseidon was sitting down next to his wife but bolted out of his seat after hearing the unmistakable sound of gagging.
He rushed to Percy's side with a basin in his hand and placed it beneath his youngest son's chin just in time for him to get sick. Percy gotten out of surgery thirty minutes ago, and just now woken from the sedation.
Poseidon closed his eyes to avoid watching the bile being expelled from Percy's mouth. After the sounds of retching subsided, he placed the basin on the table. He grabbed the towel that was laid on the table and clean the bile leaking from the corner of Percy's mouth.
"They warned me that being sick is a common side effect of the anesthesia. Do you feel like you're going to be sick again?" Poseidon asked keeping his voice soft.
Percy shook his head no. Poseidon walked over to Percy's left and pulled his chair closer to Percy's bed and squeezed his hand.
The surgery went well according to the surgeons. They removed three inches from his stump and attached a metal tube to the end of his bone, encasing it. The metal tube is designed to attach to his new prosthetic so it wouldn't jam in the future.
"Are you in any pain?" Poseidon asked.
Percy shook his head again.
"Why don't you go back to back the bed."
Percy shook his head, determined. Poseidon held back a sigh and waited for his son to respond to whatever is on his mind.
"Was it him?" Percy croaked.
Poseidon raised a brow, "Was it who?"
"The crash, was it grandfather?"
Should he tell him? Poseidon remembered the time where he told his son about his mother in the hospital in California. He didn't want him to go through psychological shock again. Though the circumstances are very different as the California incident was the death of a loved one while this incident is the death of an individual who caused much stress.
Would telling him about his grandfather's death bring relief, stress, or joy? Poseidon debated in his mind before deciding on what to say.
"It was. You don't have to worry about it anymore. He's dead."
Dr. Solace is Will Solace's father (No relation to Apollo).