14. Drugged

They found him in a field a mile or so out of town. An off-duty nurse noticed him on her drive home after a grueling ten-hour shift. Something in the air hadn't felt entirely right and she found herself warily scanning her surroundings. Tired eyes fell on the bloodied, prone figure and instinct kicked in.

They put him under Doe, John, approx. 16-18yro and alerted the local police.

Doe, John, approx. 16-18yro had a suspected concussion, lacerations on his left arm and upper torso, two requiring stitches (eighteen in all), multiple minor hematomas, and a sprained ankle. They attacked an IV with the appropriate medicine after stitching the lacerations up and left him in a darkened room while they awaited the police's arrival.

The police weren't the first to arrive. Nurses and doctors bustled about, completely unaware of the sudden appearance of a man in the room of Doe, John, approx. 16-18yro.

Poseidon stood over his son's unconscious form.

"Percy," he rumbled softly, reaching out but not quite daring to touch the demigod for fear of waking him. Zeus may not notice a quick visit to an unconscious child, but he would surely take notice were Percy to wake.

His son's injuries were not substantial. With a little ambrosia, all the mortal fussing would be rendered unnecessary but, still, Poseidon couldn't help but be a little grateful for the precious moments they stole for him. He knew the daughter of Athena and the other seven searched for his son and they would find him eventually. Percy would be fine and hearty in a manner of hours undoubtedly. Poseidon supposed on some level it was selfish of him to deny Percy quick relief to his injuries, but gods were nothing if not invariably selfish and he gladly traded the hours of relative discomfort for this time with his son.

Percy gave a low groan and Poseidon froze as hazy green eyes flickered open. He nearly vanished, leaving the demigod to his confusion except . . . Percy's brow puckered, head cocked to the side as he stared hazily up at Poseidon. He didn't look entirely there, a point reinforced when Percy's eyes left the god to give the room a courtesy glance over. Evidently not finding anything alarming, Percy's eyes returned to Poseidon with that same semi-conscious glean.

"You," Percy slurred mildly. "Look familiar."

Poseidon's eyes flickered to the IV drip attached to his son's arm, following the line up to the hanging medicine bag at his bedside.

"Have you ever been administered pain medication before?" Poseidon asked, thinking he knew the answer.

"What?" Percy asked, sleep addled and confused. He tried to shift, found himself hindered by the blanket and the brace the doctors forced on him and paused.

"Ouch," he said in a rather delayed and almost detached manner that nearly made the god smile. "Why do things hurt?"

"You're in the hospital," Poseidon informed him.

Percy's eyes widened in surprise. "Am I?" His head turned, looking genuinely shocked to find the IV and heart monitor beside him.

"I don't need to be at the hospital," Percy said earnestly, turning back to Poseidon.

"No, you don't," Poseidon agreed, amused. "But let's keep that to ourselves, shall we?"

"You look familiar," Percy repeated, head cocking to the side not unlike a puppy as he surveyed his father, easily abandoning his former train of thought for what he knew to be the more important one even if he couldn't remember exactly why.

"I rather expect I do, yes," Poseidon affirmed, his lips twitching as his son's evidently drug-addled mind tried to make sense of his situation.

Of course, Percy would have an extreme reaction to mortal medication. Demigods never had the occasion or really the access to mortal medicine. Why take painkillers when you had ambrosia? Poseidon thought for a moment then took a seat beside his bewildered child. Percy watched him with hazy eyes, but his body was relaxed. He knew, even if he couldn't exactly remember why, that Poseidon was safe. That made Poseidon smile in earnest, leaning forward to survey the demigod.

Percy's eyes had trouble focusing and his features were relaxed in a way they hadn't been in years, senses and natural anxieties dulled by mortal medicine. Poseidon doubted he would even have the capacity to remember this meeting once the medicine wore off.

"I know you," Percy mused, more a declaration than a question.

"You do," Poseidon agreed. "But try not to think too hard on it or I shall have to leave."

"Hm, don't want you to leave," Percy mused in that same lazy, careless tone but the words made Poseidon's heart clench.

The freely given words, even if Percy wasn't entirely cognizant of what he was saying or who he was talking to, held an inherent truth in them, a vulnerability Percy would never have expressed were it not for the drugs.

"I don't want to either," Poseidon gently assured him.

He wondered if he dared to reach out and sooth back Percy's sleep mused hair. He decided he didn't, clasping his hands before him to quell the very human urge to touch the son of his. Percy continued to watch him in a sort of hazy amusement, smiling carelessly and genially at his father, utterly unconcerned, unafraid.

"I'll stay for a while," Poseidon promised softly, "if you talk."

"Talk? About what?" Percy asked with a laugh, looking wild and silly and Poseidon almost stole him. Grabbed him and whisked him away to where nobody could ever find him, nobody could ever hurt him or make him look any way other this (wild, careless, happy) ever again.

"Anything, everything," Poseidon dismissed, not caring.

"Hm, okay then," Percy laughed again. "Hey, hey, have you ever tried blue chocolate chip cookies? Man, they are the best. I can't remember why, but I know they are. Have you ever made them? I think my mom makes them, but I can't really remember. Oh, or have you ever—"

When the police finally arrived an hour later, a frazzled blonde haired teenager in their wake, Percy had fallen asleep. He slept peacefully, a smile on his face.

A/n I don't know how hospitals work or how probable this scenario is. Percy probably wasn't loopy enough but I hope it rotted your teeth. Reminded me a bit of Deprivation tbh. Anyway, thank you all so much for your continued support! Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Up next: Concussion