WILL
I work for hours. Doing everything I know to do. Reyna and Reve join me after they've finished with Percy and Annabeth, who both wake up into the fifth or sixth hour.
At last, there's nothing more I can do. I can feel it. I've done everything I can. And he'll either wake up, or he won't.
'You should sleep, Will.' Kayla says, a gentle hand on my shoulder, 'you're no good to him sleep deprived.'
'I want to be here when he wakes up.' I say.
She pauses. Looks to Nico, then back to me.
'Will, you know as well as I do that it could be days before he wakes up.' She thinks for a moment, then quietly, 'it could be weeks.'
'And it could be never.' I say bluntly. What she and Reve didn't want to say to me. For a moment I think I'll be able to retain my medical head. The thing that's been stopping me from worrying about Nico while I work on him.
But now, while there's nothing more I can do, I finally snap. Kayla and Reve can both see it.
'Buddy, you've got to sleep.' Reve says gently.
'We can set up a bed for you right next to him.' Kayla adds, 'and we'll wake you if anything happens. Anything at all.'
I don't have the energy to disagree. I let Kayla lead me over to the bed that Reve makes up. And I lie down, and I close my eyes. And eventually I fall asleep.
