Sunflower

12

Tw for violence and blood

"Piper! Stop walking for gods sake!" Jason calls out.
Piper stops, "What do you want Jason?"
"To talk to you. I've been trying to catch up to you all morning but you've been avoiding me." Jason says.
Piper rolls her eyes, "Didn't I say I wanted to be left alone?"
"You did, and I listened. I left you alone for 3 days. Now talk to me."
"About what? You want me to listen to you and Leo talk all about how Aelia will be back any day now? Because I really don't want to do that."
"Then we won't. Gods Piper it's been so long since we had a conversation with just the two of us." Jason sighs.
Piper crosses her arms. "I can't imagine how hard this is for you and I'm sorry."
"You're right you don't, so don't try to."
"I'm not, and I won't. But Piper, when Percy and Annabeth were in Tartarus we never thought them dead for a second. Because we believed in them. Why is it so hard for you to believe in Aelia?"
"I do believe in her, I don't trust Hecate, she's a goddess going after my friend! I can't lose another friend Jason!"
Jason stares at his friend. Piper is pacing, "Jason I really couldn't deal with it."
"I know. But you won't have to, she'll come back."
Piper whips towards him angrily and he holds his hands up, "I know you didn't want me saying it. Come on, come spar with me."
Jason holds his hand out to her and she stares at it. She looks up at his eyes before grabbing his arm, "Alright fine. Let's get this over with."
Jason smiles in triumph as the two go towards the training area. "You'll have to go easy on me, it's been a while."
"Ha! I am not going to go easy on you." Piper laughs.
Piper holds her out to stop Jason, "Is that Jessie?"
"Where?"
"Over there. They're going into their cabin." Piper points to the Hermes cabin.
Both Jason and Piper rush over and go into the cabin. Jessie is the only one in there and they look up when Piper and Jason push the door open. "Ah, I was wondering when you'd both come."
"You're back?"
"Obviously. Look, I don't know where Aelia is. I left her with her brothers."
"Are you both alright? Is everyone alright?" Piper asks.
Jessie looks beyond exhausted, "I'm fine I just had to use a lot of magic to get back here. I don't know how Aelia is, you'd have to ask Will or Sam. Now if you'll excuse me I very much need a nap right now."
"I'm glad you're alright Jessie." Piper says as she pulls Jason out of the cabin.
Jason leans down slowly, "I wasn't going to say anything... but I told you so."
Piper punches his arm, "Yeah, yeah. Where is Leo? Do you know?"
"Hm? No I have no idea, maybe the bunKer?" Jason says.
"Probably. I'm going to go find Aelia."
"I'm coming with you." Jason follows behind her as they find the medical cabin.
They walk in and see both Sam and Will sitting there. "Wonderful, that was extremely easy!" Piper cheers.
Will offers a small smile, "My guess is you found Jessie."
"Of course. Now tell us what happened." Piper agrees.
Will sighs, "I don't know fully."
But Will explains what he learned from the little information Aelia gave him and the other parts Jessie gave him. Jason sits down when Will is done talking, "Gods, this is my fault."
"Jason, stop." Piper snaps.
"Piper's right. It's not your fault. Even back when she did the ritual, both me and Nico tried to stop her but she was so determined to do it. She must have known what was going to happen." Will says quietly.
"I'm still the one she risked everything for! I don't understand why she did it if Thanatos was going to come after her."
"Because she loves you. Because we all love you. I guarantee if you asked her why she did it she'd have a list of reasons." Piper practically whispers.
"She'll be alright. It just might take a little while. The last time this happened wasn't good." Will frowns.
"No kidding." Piper grimaces. "But you said she was actually responding?"
Will nods, "Sometimes. But that's what I'm scared of, most of it she just was absent. She somehow reopened her wound and I couldn't get her to tell me what happened and why she was bleeding."
"Where is she now?" Jason asks.
"She's in our cabin." Sam says, talking for the first time.
Jason stands up and walks to her cabin. He can hear the music playing from outside the cabin. He slowly pushes the door open and steps in. Aelia is lying on one of the couches with her eyes closed. Jason walks over quietly and sits across from her. "Aelia."
Her eyes open but she doesn't look over, "I'm okay Jason."
"You don't look okay."
"Rude." She chuckles.
He sees the blood lining her nails from picking at them, "I know I'm right."
"You always think you are."
"Cause I am. Tell me what I can do to help you."
Aelia stays quiet. Jason asks again. Aelia sighs, "Leave it be."
"No."
"Yes."
"I'm not doing this."
"Cool. Then I win."
From across from her he can see the bags under her eyes. Looking tired like Jessie but not like them at the same time.
"You look tired, I'll let you sleep." Jason whispers.
He stands up but Aelia grabs his arm before he can walk away. He looks down at her. Her eyes are wide, "No, please stay. I'm sorry. I can't be alone right now."
Jason stares at her, "Okay."
He sits next to her on the couch and she rests her head in his lap. "Thank you."