Ch21

Percy barely had time to take in Dean's presence before he found himself swept into the biggest hug of his life. He dropped Ares' bag and wrapped his arms around Dean. Everything…everything else could wait. All that mattered was Dean's hand cradling his head, the tight grip his cousin had on him, and the fact that he was here. After everything that had happened, the ignored phone calls, everything Percy had said, the runaround he'd given him, he was here. He cared enough to track him down even when Percy had run across the entire country.

Percy felt Dean pulling away and reluctantly let go just in time to feel Dean seize his shoulders and give him a rough shake. He glared at Dean, his anger rushing back. He opened his mouth to complain but Dean cut across him.

"Don't you ever pull a stunt like this again, you hear me?" Dean's voice was hoarse and Percy froze as he took in Dean's appearance. He looked like he hadn't slept since…since Percy had still been at Yancy. Dean gave him another little shake, his grip tightening painfully. "Hey! I'm not kidding. You do not do something like this again! I swear to god, Percy–"

Numbly, Percy nodded, and Dean pulled him in for another rough hug before letting him go and exhaling loudly. Percy heard shuffling behind him and glanced back to find Grover and Annabeth standing awkwardly in front of where the tunnel from the underworld had been. He winced as he felt Dean tense up behind him.

"Who are they?" Dean's tone was hard and accusatory and Percy had to bite back his immediate irritation.

"My friends."

"They got names?" Annabeth and Grover said nothing as Percy introduced them but Percy couldn't help bristling on their behalf. Dean didn't let up. "How'd you all meet? How long have you known them? Bobby said you were hunting with backup, not a couple of kids you found at school."

"Does it matter?" Percy couldn't help but snap, turning to face Dean square on. "They're my friends."

Dean looked frustrated. "Of course it matters, you know this. They could be anyone!" Or anything, Dean didn't say, but Percy heard him loud and clear. From the way Annabeth and Grover tensed, they heard it too.

Percy wasn't going to entertain this, but there was also no explanation he could give that wouldn't lead to more questions. For all the time he'd had to get his lies straight, he wasn't prepared in the slightest.

Fuck, where's a good subject change when you need one?

"How did you find us?" He held back his wince. That was…very blunt but a genuine question even if it didn't relate to Dean's interrogation at all. If Percy had slipped up somehow while they were laying low then it would be good to know what he needed to fix.

Dean saw this ulterior motive immediately and didn't give him an inch. "I'm good at my job, that's how. Maybe if you didn't go running off across America, I'd teach you." The hardness hadn't left Dean's voice. He was pissed, that was for sure. "Speaking of, don't think I'll forget you pulling a runner anytime soon. You're grounded. Bobby will be happy to enforce it."

Percy was immediately confused and wary. "Bobby? Why would–"

"What, you think we'd let you vanish into the system? Or leave you on the streets? Fuck no, you're a Winchester and we look out for our own. Bobby's already looking into the paperwork."

"Won't he just live with Sally?" Percy froze and closed his eyes with regret. Any burgeoning warm feelings he'd experienced at Dean's arrival died with Grover's thoughtless words. He didn't bother speaking as Dean took in the three of them properly.

Annabeth and Grover had lost some colour while in the underworld and had yet to recover it. If Percy looked even remotely similar then Dean would pick up on it, along with the passageway that had long since vanished. The one he'd watched them walk out of, but had been too preoccupied with Percy to really worry about. A sick feeling settled in Percy's stomach as he watched Dean's hand creep towards the back of his waistband.

"What did you do?" Dean's voice was low and unforgiving. Percy chanced a look at his face and glanced away just as quickly. He'd never seen Dean look so angry in his life. The first stirrings of panic threaded through him.

"I didn't–"

"You're white as a ghost. Your lips are blue and so are the tips of your fingers. Don't think I didn't notice the vanishing tunnel into the hill, either. You–" Dean broke off and Percy swallowed roughly. "What was the price?"

"What?"

"Don't fuck with me! This isn't a joke, Percy. I've read Dad's journal and resurrection always, always has a price." Dean swallowed roughly, "I need to know who you dealt with and what you gave up."

"I–" Percy broke off, his mind racing. What did he say? 'Oh yeah, Lord Hades– who's sort of my uncle but not really– took my mom but it's okay I convinced him to give her back– wait. There was an idea there. Could he…no. He couldn't, could he?

"Now, Percy."

"Hades." Percy's voice was a whisper and he cringed at invoking the god by name, but Dean didn't have the patience for talking around a subject at the best of times. Now was definitely not the best of times.

Dean took a step forward and seized Percy by the shoulders. "The– Hades as in the god. You– what did you give up?"

"It's not that bad." Percy winced even as he spoke.

"Perseus Jackson, if you don't answer me right this fucking second–"

"Service," Percy interrupted and carefully didn't look at Annabeth or Grover. "I work off my debt to him, and– and the other gods. Retrieving items, completing quests, until the debt is paid."

Dean clenched his fists and Percy blew out a hissed breath as his shoulders protested.

"How long."

"I–"

"How long until the debt is repaid? Did you get it in writing? What were you thinking?"

Percy was being pulled out of Dean's grip and suddenly he found Annabeth between him and his cousin. Apparently she'd had enough of standing on the sidelines, but all it did was give Dean's anger a new target.

"You went down there with him and let him do this? Some 'friends' you are, letting him sign his life away."

"It wasn't like that–" Percy tried to defend them but Annabeth cut in.

"He knew what he was doing. He completely understood the price and he got a reasonable deal for what he was asking. It's a lot better than what some people pay."

Dean looked like he was gearing up to turn this into one hell of a fight, the kind the Winchester family was known for. Percy thought the situation couldn't get any worse when the distinct sound of a motorcycle roaring up the gravel road reached his ears. Dread curled in his stomach.

Please be mortal, please be mortal, please be mortal.

The bike pulled up next to the impala and Ares got off, his aura already setting Percy's teeth on edge. He was hyper aware of the bag he'd dropped on the ground once he'd seen Dean.

"Jackson."

"Who the fuck are you?" Dean's voice was loud and angry and he looked to be gearing up for a physical fight.

No no no nononono

Ares didn't pay him any attention but Percy knew how aggravating and stubborn Dean could be. How aggravating and stubborn any of the Winchesters could be. He wouldn't take ignorance lying down, especially not when Ares was focusing on Percy.

Percy pushed past Annabeth and, dodging Dean's grab for him, stood himself directly between his cousin and the god. He pushed away the dream of Ares declaring his loyalty to Percy rather than Poseidon and did his best to ignore the violent aura of the god.

"You tricked us." Percy couldn't stop the accusatory tone that came with the words, not with the god standing so close and doing absolutely nothing to check his aura.

Ares ignored his words, but a smug smile tugged at his lips as he took in the defensive position he'd taken in front of his cousin. Dean hadn't forcefully removed him yet, but that would only last until Ares said something threatening. Or moved in a threatening manner. Or looked at Percy for too long.

"You survived. Good." Ares' eyes settled on the bag, "and you even remembered the bag on the way out. Even better."

Dean's hand gripped Percy's shoulder but Percy ignored him and stood firm, anger coating his words now. "You had the helm. I'm guessing the bolt is still in the bag, so either you stole it or you know who did! You could've put a stop to this whole thing before it had even happened!" Grover reached forward and gripped Percy's arm in a bruising grip.

Ares' eyes burned with fire as they locked with Percy's. Heat suffused his body and his muscles started trembling and twitching like they did after an adrenaline high. "There are bigger things at stake, Perseus Jackson. Regardless of what you or your father think, I did what I must."

Against his will, Percy was forcefully reminded of the pit they'd barely escaped and the conversation that was awaiting him sometime in the near future.

"I–"

"His father?" Dean had latched onto the one part of the conversation he could understand. "Percy's never met his father, Aunt Sally said he was lost at sea. What does he have to do with any of this?"

Ares ignored him, focused entirely on Percy. "You are already aware of what, of whom, I speak. Good. Forewarned is forearmed and you have a difficult battle ahead of you."

Dean had had enough. Percy found himself forcefully pulled backwards as Dean manhandled him into a position he could be easily defended. "I don't know who the fuck you think you are–"

"Dean Winchester," Ares interrupted. A cruel smirk twisted his features, reminding Percy of their first meeting. "You have an…interesting future ahead of you. Stay out of that which does not concern you, mortal. You'll find yourself preoccupied with your own battles soon enough." Dean froze, seeming to finally realise he wasn't just dealing with some asshole biker. "This is between Perseus and I. After all, we have an…agreement."

Percy swallowed. He knew Ares meant the quest he had completed for the god, now only reliant on Percy's safe return to camp. There was also a strong possibility that Ares was talking about the alliance he'd discussed with Poseidon– some dreams were real and that was never not going to be fucking weird– but Dean would think he was talking about Percy's deal with Hades. That wouldn't go over well.

Ares looked past Dean to Percy and smirked. "You have an appointment at the Empire State building before the solstice. Don't be late and make sure you're…appropriately packed." Ares' eyes lingered on his bag.

He didn't wait for Percy to nod before he was straddling his motorbike and gunning the engine.

"Fulfil your promise to my daughter, Jackson, and we'll talk later." Ares squealed out of the lot before Percy could question him further, leaving Percy and his friends with one very angry, very confused, Dean Winchester.

Percy glanced at Annabeth and Grover and found understanding in their eyes. The quest was almost over. He turned back to face Dean and faltered at the stone cold rage on his face. His arms were crossed over his chest and when he spoke, his voice was icy with anger.

"Explain."

Percy fought the urge to flinch. Dean had never looked more like John. Unyielding and demanding. Awaiting answers that would likely never measure up to his definition of 'okay.'

"I…" Percy trailed off. Where did he start? Dean just stood there, content to wait him out. "We…I have to make a delivery to the king of the gods. Something was…taken from him and if it's not returned before the solstice he's going to…"

"He's going to wage war until it's returned. Regardless of the damage it will do to the mortal world." Annabeth's voice was firm and authoritative, and somehow it got through to Dean.

"And you have to be the one to return it because…?"

Grover stepped in. "The Lord of the Dead doesn't want to deal with an influx of souls because his brother was careless about where he unleashed his rage. And since Percy is now working for him…"

Dean didn't move. "And what? Now any god that needs something done can make you do it? And how the fuck did whoever that was know your dad?" Dean's cold facade cracked as he scrubbed a hand over his face. "Forget it. This…this is insane. You know that right?" His voice was still angry but it had lost the icy edge of rage. "And I suppose you want me to, what? Just let you go?"

Percy didn't say anything but he knew Dean would take it for the agreement it was.

"No." Dean's voice was hard. "No, you know what? Fuck no." He pointed at Percy, "you are the subject of a nation-wide manhunt. The FBI is involved! And you want me to just, what, let you roadtrip back across America? After you went and got yourself involved with pagans?"

Percy's voice was quiet. "If I don't, Zeus will lay waste to the entire country in his rage." Thunder rumbled ominously overhead despite the clear night sky. Percy knew Dean hadn't missed the way all three of them flinched.

He pointed an angry finger at them. "Get in the car." Percy hesitated and Dean raised his voice. "All three of you, get in the goddamn car. Percy, you're up front."

When Grover and Annabeth hesitated, Percy pulled them towards the impala. There was no reasoning with Dean when he got like this. Any further stalling or attempt at explanation would just ignite his explosive temper. Dean waited impatiently until they'd all gotten in before getting behind the wheel.

"Here's what's going to happen. I'm going to find a hotel for the night– shut up," he spoke over Percy's protests. "I'm going to find a hotel for the night, first thing in the morning I'll make for New York. You have the first day to explain to me what's going on and why I shouldn't just haul your ass straight to Bobby's to cool off."

Percy tried to voice another halfhearted protest but Dean cut through those too.

"No. You got to do things your way and that's what landed you in this shitshow of epic proportions. You're lucky I'm even giving you a chance to explain– do you know what Dad would do if he were here–"

"He's not here–"

"Shut it. You will explain, I will decide, and you will abide by that decision. Capiche?" He glared at Percy. Percy bit back every scathing comment he wanted to make and reluctantly nodded. Dean blew out a rough breath. "Good."

He gunned the engine and glanced back at Annabeth and Grover in the backseat, "any parents I have to worry about? No? Great, let's get this show on the road."

...

They hadn't been on the road five minutes before Dean started in on Percy again. Percy knew, he'd been watching the clock and waiting. The anger that had banked when he'd first seen Dean had steadily grown from the moment Dean started questioning his choice in friends, and now it felt as fresh as it had been when he'd still been at Yancy.

"You know, Sam and I were pretty fucking worried about you kid. You even had Bobby stressed."

The anger Percy had been biting back flared up with a vengeance and this time he let it loose. "Oh yeah? You and Sam had such a great way of showing it. I tried every fucking phone. Twelve times. You were oh so worried then. Sam was even so worried that he disconnected his!"

Percy watched as Dean's grip on the steering wheel tightened and couldn't help the savage feeling of satisfaction it caused.

"There was…other shit going down at the time."

"Other shit going down? A fucking fury attacked me at school, Dean. Not even at school, on a field trip! I had no weapons– I got out of it with dumb luck!"

"What do you mean you had no weapons? Jesus, Percy, always carry a fucking knife or something, how many times do we have to tell you!?"

"You don't get to chew me out now! I couldn't reach you! You wouldn't pick up! I couldn't get through to John! Sam ditched his phone! No-one came for me! Yeah, I bet everyone's real concerned, so concerned they're not even here! What happened, did Sam decide whatever hunt Uncle John is on was more important? Did they flip a coin and send you to drag me–"

"Enough!" Dean was breathing heavily and Percy fell silent, his own chest heaving too. He glanced back at Annabeth and Grover and found them looking extremely uncomfortable in the back seat. He winced and glanced out the window.

"Sam's at Stanford." Dean's voice was carefully even. Percy whirled to stare at him in shock but Dean didn't remove his eyes from the road. "Him and Dad got into it and Sam left. He disconnected his phone so Dad couldn't get ahold of him and I guess he forgot to pass his new number along."

That…that didn't make anything better at all, actually. After everything they'd gone through together, everything he'd confided in Sam for, he wasn't even an afterthought? Dean had made it sound like he was still in contact with Sam so Sam had to know about what Percy had been going through and…what? He was still at university? It certainly explained why he hadn't been able to get ahold of any of the Winchesters but it didn't justify anything.

"Whoopee for him, then." Percy's cold tone shocked even him but he pushed on regardless. "It's nice to know just how low I rank in everyone's priorities. Sam leaves and suddenly I don't matter to any of you. Then, once the news about my mom–" Percy flinched, and he knew Dean was aware enough to catch it even if he didn't look at him– "once everything winds up in the papers, you're the only one who shows!" He was yelling by the time he finished.

Dean flexed his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles white and his jaw clenched. He seemed to be biting back another tirade through sheer willpower alone. He abruptly pulled to a stop in front of a casino and let out a rough breath.

"This isn't going to work. I need my four hours. Be ready when I'm up, we need to haul ass if I'm going to get you to New York before whatever fucking day the solstice falls on." He got out and handed the keys to a valet, leaving the three of them in the car.

Percy closed his eyes and tried to get his emotions under control. He glanced back at his friends, "I'm sorry, you shouldn't–" the valet knocked awkwardly on the window. "Right. We should go. He'll be…it'll be better once he's rested and had some time to cool off." Once we've both had time to cool off.

Annabeth and Grover did him the favour of not contradicting his statement.