Percy couldn't do anything to stop the constant bouncing of his leg as he waited for news in the hospital room. Usually, whenever he'd think of a hospital, he'd always thought it'd smell like antiseptic or cleanliness. But all he smelt was sweat and sick people.

He wasn't sure if he'd been there for an hour or hours. Time stood still, moved fast, moved too slow, all at the same time. And no-one had come to him with any information. He wasn't even sure if anyone in that room knew he even existed. All he knew what he had experienced. Gabe was in jail, his mom was in the hospital, and there had been a lot of blood. He'd already tried numerous times to talk to the desk workers, but it was a Saturday night in one of New York's busiest hospitals. There was way too much going on for anyone to pay him any attention. But he was hungry, tired, and there had been way too much blood for his mom to be fine like the EMT's had promised. Having enough of no answers, Percy pushed himself out of his seat to ask his questions for the millionth time.

"Uh hi, excuse me, I'm looking for Sally jackson, she got admitted…a while ago, I think. I'm her son. I'm here for her." The receptionist looked at him with half lidded eyes, like she was barely paying him any attention. Percy knew what that meant. That he was about to get dismissed again. He felt a surge of anger and slammed his hands on the counter. "Goddammit can someone tell me something?"

The receptionist's eyes widened but Percy barely noticed as the tight feeling in his chest grew by 1,000, and it was impossible to breathe. He barely noticed the receptionist pointing him out to a higher up over the lights brightening and his ears ringing. Distantly, he felt someone putting their hand on his back as he bent over to try and breathe. They were trying to lead him somewhere but the hand felt like fire.

"No- Stop. I'm-I'm looking for my mom. Please. She's-" Either nobody responded or he just couldn't hear them. The world spun in and out focus, slowing down what felt like hours later. When it finally stopped he opened his eyes (not realizing that he'd even closed them) and took in his new surroundings.

Not that he'd noticed that he'd even changed rooms. Or that he'd curled up in the hospital chairs. He just wanted his mom back to help everything make sense. Or at least so he'd know something beyond the fact that he was exhausted.

A few moments, or ages later, a lot of clanging and muttering announced someone's arrival. Percy squinted as a flustered nurse held the door for a firm looking woman stepped into the room. Percy took in her appearance. She was pale, only a shade or two away from the white flowy dress she wore. Her dark hair added a sharp contrast, and up until she smiled at him, she looked to be older than his with her peaceful presence, Percy didn't move. The woman continued a light smile, giving a murderous glare at the nurse before turning to give Percy her full attention.

"Hi sweetie, before we get started, I need you to just confirm that your name is Perseus Jackson." The woman flitted around with a file folder, his name in black ink at the top. He was familiar with his name on school records, being that he went to a new school almost every year. Or the diagnoses, like his ADD and Dyslexia. He wasn't even sure who this woman was or how she'd got his information, but he nodded reluctantly, hoping that if he played nice someone would give him answers. The lady gave him that awkward smile again, still shifting through her papers. "Nice to meet you Perseus. I'm your social worker, , and I'm here to talk with you about your placement. I know this is sudden and all but I've found-" Percy's head spun as pieces started to fall together.

"What are you talking about? Social worker? Placement? I came here with my mom, I'm leaving here with my mom." He felt another wave of anger and did his best to use the manners his mom spent so long to instill. The lady, 's face contorted more and more into anger and confusion as he talked. "Her name is Sally, Sally Jackson. We came here tonight, after an accident back home." took a moment to take in his rant.

"I don't know why I assumed anyone would have told you anything. Perseus-"

"It's Percy."

"Percy. Due to the injuries your mom sustained from your…accident, she had to be placed in a coma to help her body heal. And until she does you need someone to stay with. Now because you don't have any immediate family, you have to be put in a home."

"My mom." Percy choked out. He felt the tightness in his chest come back, full force, as he thought about his mom, lying in a hospitable bed. His strong mom, the one and only Sally Jackson, lying in a coma. He felt himself begin to hyperventilate again. "My mom-"

"Your mother will be alright Percy. The coma is just a preventive measure to make the healing process either. All of this is just a temporary thing alright?" kept talking and Percy did his best to listen and make sense of her words. Unfortunately, listening had never been one of his strong suits.

"My mom." He said again. All he could think of was blue pancakes and jellybeans. Sharing the last soda on a Montauk trip, being home with his mom. placed a hand on his chest, and squeezed him in rhythmic pulses, mimicking calm breathing.

"Deep breaths Percy. Deep, slow, breaths." spoke loud and slowly repeating the same mantra, adding different adjectives. Percy decided to just focus on the absurdity of it all to get the speed of his breathing down. When it finally subsided, he slumped back against the back of the chair, completely exhausted.

"That's better isn't it dear." sighed and stood up. "We can drop by your home, grab a few things, and then head off."

The apartment was way more depressing without his mom. Evidence of his mom and Gabe's fight littered the house in knocked over furniture, broken blinds, and beer angrily kicked one over as he walked towards his room. What was left of it anyways. He tried to move fast considering waited on him. Stashing clothes into a duffel bag he'd use for trips. His mom had always taught him that in case they even had to pack fast to just pack the clothes out his hamper. Going over to the dresser where his mom kept her clothes he grabbed a sweatshirt, one that still smelled like her. He packed his backpack with what little personal items he had. Small things like the book of stories his mom had gotten printed in a special Dyslexia font, his ipod, and a sea globe that had been around as long as he could remember. His mom had said it'd been a gift from his father before he was even born. He wondered what his father would say to all of this happening, wondered if he would even cre.

"Ready to go?" Percy genuinely appreciated not acting disturbed by the appearance. He knew how bad it was, and that she was probably taking notes for some kind of report. This time, he couldn't help but knock out in the back of the social worker's car. He didn't want to, his mind was racing with everything that had happened that day, by the hyperventilating earlier, and the fact that he hadn't slept since the night before the big argument.

"Percy woke up."

Percy felt his eyes flutter open as the weight of everything crashed down on him. His mother, his exhaustion, and the fact that there were 4 nosy looking kids his age peeking out from the windows of the big blue house. At least, three of them had enough shame to duck when Percy noticed them. One of the girls kept staring, until Percy was forcibly ushered into the home. Always being the new kid at school taught Percy how to deal with other kids. He stood up straight and stared at the kids right back in their faces hoping he wouldn't look like an easy target, or that anyone could tell he had cried multiple times today.

"Who was that?" He asked. paid him no mind, helping him carry his duffel. She knocked on the door and Percy noticed how her demeanor had changed. Whoever she'd been on the phone with while he fell asleep had ticked her off, and Percy had dealt with enough ticked off adults to know to leave her alone.

A man in a wheelchair opened the door. He had aged brown skin and eyes, thinning hair, a scraggly beard and wore a tweed jacket. His wheelchair didn't diminish any of the authoritative aura he held, not that Percy would have questioned it. The man gave a curt nod to and turned her attention to Percy.

"Greetings Perseus. My name is Chiron and I am in charge of this establishment. As unfortunate as the circumstances that have led you here, we're glad to have you." Percy chose not to comment on anything the man said as he wheeled himself further into the house. It seemed simplistic, a staircase led to a hallway going in both directions. The main floor held a couple rooms beyond what he could see. Most of the time he focused on the faces peeing at him around the house. "Perseus? Perseus-"

"It's Percy." He grumbled, snapping out of sizing up the others. He hadn't heard whatever the man, Chiron, had been talking about. Not that he really cared anyway. The man's face morphed into an 'O' as he followed Percy's line of vision.

,

"Well don't just stare, children. Come and introduce yourselves." The faces all skittered away at being called out, with the same girl lingering last. Chiron didn't seem surprised at their behavior, and Percy wondered what he was about to deal with.

"Aw Chiron, you should've known that wouldn't work." A guy, who looked to be about 4 years older to Percy's 13, swaggered down the steps. He looked to be the definition of a cool kid, handsome, someone who'd either not pay Percy any attention in school or make his life a living hell. "My names Luke, I'm pretty sure you're my new roommate."