A/N Just a warning for abuse in the first part of this. If you'd like to skip it, the second part occurs after the line break, and begins with "The bright lights above Percy were swinging almost,"
Sorry I'm a bit late with this chapter, I had eight hours of work yesterday that started early, and by the time I got home I just wanted to collapse.

Percy had decided early on that he didn't like Gabe.

The man smelled bad, and he was a complete jerk to Percy's mom. And anyone who was a jerk to his mom didn't deserve to be liked.

Particularly after the fight they had about blue food, which, in Percy's opinion, was completely ridiculous. Of course there was such a thing as blue food! His mom was the greatest person in the world, and was always correct.

Besides, if blue food didn't exist, then how come his mom kept finding such coloured food and drinks? And of course, it was like Gabe had forgotten that blueberries existed.

In Percy's seven year old opinion, blue was the best colour as well. He didn't know why, but it was his mom' favourite colour, and her opinion always mattered to him. Blue was the colour of nights spent snuggled at the small beach house at Montauk, the colour of the ocean, glittering in the sun, a place Percy had always felt safest.

Blue wasn't how Smelly Gabe felt, no, he was more like one of those disgusting mustardy yellow colours, which not only looked, but smelled horrible.

So of course, when Percy saw that colour of hair dye in the store, gripping tightly to his mom's hand as she shopped, he knew what he had to do.

So, one day on his way home from school, Percy stopped off at the store and bought the hair dye.

Later on in life, Percy would reflect how this decision affected the course of everything, and would often wonder what would have happened had he not listened to whatever thoughts had been going on in his head that day.

But this reflection would occur much later. Much, much later.

After he returned home, it was much easier than he expected to slip the hair dye into one of Smelly Gabe's many hair products, something which Percy found utterly ridiculous.

Why spend all that money on hair products when the guy looked like a naked mole rat? (One of his classmates had done a presentation on the rodents a month ago, and Percy had thought it was an apt description of his step-father).

With the hair dye in place, all Percy had to do was wait for the dye to take effect.

He didn't have to wait long, only a few days.

Unfortunately, it didn't have the exact desired effect he had been hoping for.

The first indication that Percy had that the man had found out was the angry shout from the bathroom, his mom flinching suddenly as she looked up in fear towards the sound.

The second indication was the angry stomps coming from the bathroom, the third the sound of a fist going through one of their walls.

Then came the shouting.

"SALLY!"

Out came Gabe, his face red like a lobster, hair wet, moustache quivering.

Percy often giggled at the thought that there was more hair on Smelly Gabe's face than on his head. When he had told his mom that, she had simply sighed, a tired look in her eyes, before she had run her hand through his hair, smiling slightly.

She wasn't smiling now.

Her face had paled suddenly, and Percy didn't feel brave anymore. He slipped behind his mom, reaching out to grip her hand for support.

Smelly Gabe's beady eyes landed on him, and he shivered, hiding further behind his mom, trying to make himself as small as possible.

"Yes, Gabe?" his mother replied, a quiver in her voice, as she took a step forward, chin up in defiance.

The man growled, and Percy shivered. The sound was unnatural, an inhuman sound which reverberated throughout the small kitchen, setting Percy's teeth on edge. It was the sort of growl which should have sent any ordinary person running.

Except he and his mom were trapped in the kitchen, Smelly Gabe stalking both of them.

"I have had enough," the man hissed, voice seething with barely contained rage. "Your son is nothing but an annoyance."

"Percy hasn't done anything," his mom responded, somehow pushing Percy further out of view.

Gabe's hand went up, and she flinched once more, taking a stumbling step backward, almost running into Percy.

"Really?" Gabe hissed, voice growing in volume. "Really!?"

His mom's eyes flickered towards Percy, an unspoken message in them.

Run, they seemed to say, but it was like he was frozen. It had just been a harmless prank! Gabe's hair would return to its natural shade soon enough, he didn't see why he was being an ass about it.

"Gabe, he's just a child," his mother tried to implore, hesitantly stepping forward. "He probably thought it would be funny, leave Percy alone. In fact, I'm sure he'll apologise, right now, in fact."

Gabe snorted, hands clenching at his side as his beady eyes fixed upon Percy with contempt.

Gently, Sally guided Percy forward, her smile strained and a little forced, keeping one hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Gabe," Percy muttered, feeling his mom's gaze on him, as he stared Smelly Gabe down.

Smelly Gabe's eyes narrowed further, and Percy took a step back, pressing his back into his mom's leg. There was something dangerous about the glint in his eye. The tension in the air was palpable, but finally Smelly Gabe straightened out, huffing slightly, moustache quivering once more.

"I'll accept the apology if the kid pays for replacements," Smelly Gabe said, anger lacing his voice still.

"I promise I'll get replacements tomorrow, Gabriel," his mom responded, smoothing her hand through Percy's hair in a comforting manner.

"No," Smelly Gabe growled, leaning down so that he was almost in Percy's face. "I want the kid to pay for it, since he seemed to have enough money to pay for hair dye."

"Gabriel," his mom said. "He's only seven. I'll pay for it, the money can come out of my spending bu-"

"The kid will pay for it," Smelly Gabe interrupted, a vein in his head looking dangerously close to popping. Percy tried not to gag. "And don't try and give him money to pay for it. I'll know. Then there'll be hell to pay."

Smelly Gabe turned to stalk out of the kitchen, almost waddling, and a burst of confidence shot through Percy's body.

"I don't have any money," he cried out, slipping out of his mom's grasp, folding his arms as he glared at Smelly Gabe's back as the man stopped, turning around slowly.

The bravery Percy had felt moments before vanished, and grabbed back at his mom's leg, gripping it tightly.

"Is that so?"

Percy took a step back, his mom suddenly standing in front of him once more.

"Gabriel," she said, as though she was trying to soothe his anger. "It was a harmless prank, please. He's only seven, Percy probably wasn't thinking. He's just seven. He doesn't deserve this. Not him. Please."

Silence.

It was the kind of silence which came before a storm, charged. Dangerous.

When Smelly Gabe was angry, he was loud, that was the truth.

Yet something about the man's silence, the way his eyes twitched, hands clenched at his side, made Percy more terrified than he had ever been.

Angry, shouty Gabe he could handle.

But this?

This was something new.

"I'll show him something silly," Gabe breathed, his voice low, gravelly.

And then Smelly Gabe exploded.

For someone who spent his days eating chips and lounging around looking like a walrus, Smelly Gabe moved quickly.

His hand clasped painfully around Percy's arm, the sharp jolt causing Percy to cry out, his skin twisting in the stronger man's grip.

"Come here, boy," Gabe growled, pulling harshly at Percy, grinning with glee as Percy stumbled, crying out once more as his knee came into contact with the tiled floor.

"Gabe!" Percy's mom cried out, immediately trying to drag Percy back into the safety of her arms, forcing her way in between them.

One of Gabe's hands came up, connecting with Sally's cheek, and she went reeling back, her grip on Percy loosening, as both mother and son cried out, Sally in pain as she collided with the kitchen counter, falling hard on the floor, Percy in horror as he watched on, putting all of his weight into getting away from Gabe.

It didn't matter, though, no matter how much Percy pressed his heels into the floor, his feet slipping and sliding on the tiled floor as Gabe marched him out of the apartment, Percy trying to look back at his mom, still slumped on the kitchen floor.

Panic clutched at his chest as he struggled to breath, terrified sobs he didn't realise he was making, choking him.

He had no idea where Smelly Gabe was taking him, and he felt helpless, utterly helpless. Percy wanted to scream out for help, but it was like his body was frozen, frozen with terror and despair and agony as it felt like Gabe's grip was almost tearing his arm off.

The image of his mom, slumped against the kitchen cabinet, a dazed look in her eyes after Gabe had hit her petrifying Percy more than anything.

Smelly Gabe had hit him before, mostly for money, but he had never done anything like this… and then they stopped.

Percy was trembling, his body shaking as they came to the top of the stairwell. He didn't think he had ever seen Smelly Gabe use the stairs, much less know where they were, but that didn't matter right now.

"Goodnight, brat," Gabe whispered, releasing Percy's arm as he shoved him down the stairs.

For a few unbearable seconds, pain erupted through Percy's entire body as he tried to stop himself, his head crashing into each step.

Then everything went black.

The bright lights above Percy were swinging almost, taking a second to come into focus as he blinked up at them.

When they did, he groggily tried to move, only to find his entire body aching, a dull throb in his head as he tried to breathe. Panic settled in as his body took in shallow breaths, his chest movement restricted, like something was sitting on it. He attempted to move, to get whatever was on top of him off, but his right arm felt clunky, almost unwieldy.

Pain shot through it as he tried to bend it to grab the cover, but then another hand was touching his own.

Immediately he tried to swat it away, the panic rising even further.

He needed to get out, get away, he needed to-

His mom's face appeared above his own, her hand gently brushing his forehead. His breathing was still shallow, and part of him still felt like something was sitting on his chest, but seeing his mom, soothed him, her voice, although he didn't know what she was saying, soothing, as she stroked a hand through his hair.

"-breathe, darling," she whispered, smiling at him gently. Her eyes were red and puffy, defined against the dark circles under them. One side of her face was mottled purple and yellow, and suddenly Percy's memory returned, pain washing through his body. "Shhh, that's it, breathe for me."

His body started to relax, his mom's voice washing away all of his panic, like a soothing ocean wave.

Her hands were still running through his hair as she perched on the bed next to him. Percy's world finally came into focus as he struggled to sit up, his mom gently helping him as he took in the hospital room around him.

A curtain was drawn around them, and he was aware, if he strained his ears (which sent another dull throb through his head), of others talking, whispered conversations, another child crying.

The steady beeping of the machine next to him, a drip connected to his left arm, and then he saw why his right hand had felt unwieldy before.

A white cast engulfed it, making his arm look stick-like, paled in the bright lights and against the white of the cast. His chest was wrapped tightly in thick bandages, and his body felt like one gigantic bruise.

"Mom," he tried to say, his voice coming out as a croak of sound, his throat scratchy and dry. It felt like when he had gotten sick with the flu, his head pounding slightly, tongue thick in his mouth, painful to swallow and speak.

"Hey," his mom responded, gripping her hand around his cast, brushing her thumb against his hand. "Let me go get a nurse, ok?"

Not trusting himself to speak, Percy nodded, even if he wanted nothing more than for her to stay.

For a few seconds, she disappeared, and the panic started to creep back.

The surrounding noises droned on, putting his body on edge, grating on his nerves, and he wanted nothing more than to yell out, ask them to be quiet, but his body ached, his head was throbbing and he just wanted his mom.

He coughed, his throat constricting, feeling like it was being stabbed with a million little pieces. Tears formed at the edge of his eyes and he sniffled slightly. They blurred his vision a little, and he almost missed his mom coming back, her hand gently wiping away his tears, pressing a kiss on his forehead.

He shivered, despite the warmth of the blanket, watching with trepidation as the nurse pottered around his bed, checking the machine, scribbling on a clipboard.

His mom squeezed his hand reassuringly, smiling at him, but Percy could see the pain behind her eyes, the smile not quite reaching her eyes.

The nurse began talking, but to Percy, it was just adding to the wash of noise, nausea clutching his stomach.

Finally, the nurse left them alone, her questions and sympathetic face grating on Percy more than he would admit.

His mom's hand continued stroking through his hair, her other hand gently placed over his cast. His body started to calm down, breathing returning to normal, his mom humming a simple tune.

He swallowed slightly, his throat starting to feel slightly better. Percy flickered his gaze to his mom, still struggling to speak.

"Mom," he croaked. "Wa- water?"

Within seconds, a plastic cup of water was being held against his lips, and he tried to gulp it down, a trickle of the sterile-tasting water slipping down his chin, his mother forcing him to take small sips.

His mom refilled the cup a few more times, letting him drink his fill as the gumminess of his mouth and cracked throat felt better.

He struggled to sit, his mom placing a guiding hand on his back, which throbbed slightly as he adjusted.

"What hap-" he paused, coughing a little, wincing as his chest tugged sharply. "What happened?"

His mom smiled at him, a few tears forming at the edge of her eyes, and it was then he noticed the shiny bruise, a deep yellow and purple colour, and guilt rose in his chest. This was all his fault. If he hadn't gone through with the prank, then his mom wouldn't be hurt, then… then…

He sniffled, whacking himself in the head with his cast as he tried to wipe away his tears, his mom immediately there to soothe him, rubbing circles on the back of his hand.

"It's ok, baby," she whispered gently. "You've been asleep for three days…" She sighed, rubbing a hand over her tired features. "The doctors want to keep you here for another few days… just to keep an eye on you, 'k?"

"But," he stopped, looking at the tired droop of his mom's shoulders, something which hadn't been there before. "What about the money? What about Smelly Gabe? S'all my fault, mom, I'm so sorry."

He let out a sob, this time trying to wipe his tears away with his other hand in a more successful attempt. His mom grips his hand tighter in response, leaning in closer to him.

"Don't you worry about the money, ok baby?" she smiled. "I'll figure it out, 'k?"

He nodded, and then another thought hit him, "Are we gonna have to go back?"

His mom fell silent, a distant look in her eye, so he continued, the silence bothering him as much as the distant wash of noise.

"If he was hurting you, why'd you marry him?"

She pressed a kiss on his forehead, and he felt a dampness press onto his head, as she rested her cheek there for a second, as she spoke into his hair.

"I…" she sighed. "Sometimes there are forces beyond our control, baby."

"It's all my fault!" Percy cried out, his mom moving away to raise her eyebrow at him, looking straight into his eyes.

"It's not your fault, Perseus," she responded sternly. "Don't ever say that, baby."

"But… but… it is!" he pushed back, the tears threatening to come back. "If I left and never came back, you and Gabe wouldn't have to deal with me… and maybe he wouldn't have hurt yo-"

"Perseus Jackson."

He stopped, staring at the look of complete and utter shock on his mother's face, pain and anger and sternness rolled all into one.

"Don't you dare say that," she continued, her breathing becoming faster and faster, even more tears spilling down her face. "Don't you ever say that. You are not the problem. It's Gabe. Dear lord, I thought I could do it, could protect you… but by doing so I just put you in danger."

Percy felt confused, like his mom hadn't meant to say the last part, but he pressed on, fear clutching his heart.

"But what if… what if he hurts you again? What if he hurts us?"

That distant look in her eyes returned, and it was then he noticed the crumpled piece of paper in her hand, fiddling with it as she sat there.

"I'll figure it out," she finally said, after minutes passed in the quiet, leaning forward to press a kiss on his forehead again.

Warmth settled over his body for the first time since he had woken up. Of course everything was going to be ok.

Sally Jackson was his mom, and she was the kindest best person in the world. If she said that she would figure something out, she would.

Percy trusted her.

A/N I will forever be a sucker for Sally Jackson calling Percy her little baby. I love her so much. Once again, I have no clue what hospitals are like in America, just going off of experience from my mum being in hospital (nothing as bad as this).