From orphan... To Prince

Chapter 2

"So who is the patient?" Asked a blond-haired man that came into the room. After Percy and Annabeth had arrived at the hospital, they were taken to a private room. Percy, who sat at the examination table looked up. "Guess that's me." He said. "Ah, your uncle Poseidon's kid." The man said. Percy looked shocked at him. "How did you..." "Good to meet you cousin. My father is your father's brother. Apollo, son of Zeus. I left home to follow my medical carrier." Apollo said and took out a stethoscope. "He is all yours Apollo." Annabeth said. "Check him out while I make a phone call." Annabeth walked out the door. "Take a deep breath." Percy did as he was told, and winced when his rib started hurting. Apollo pressed down a hand at his rib and Percy made a small yelp. "Alright." Apollo said. "Take off your shirt." Percy stared at him. "Uh, no thanks." He said. "Look, either you take it off or miss bossy Chase will come in and do it for you." Apollo said. "She may be young, but she is fierce and won't stop until she has fulfilled her task. And that is now getting you checked out. So, shirt. Off." Percy looked down at his feet while he pulled his shirt off. He knew what Apollo was going to see. And it would lead to some uncomfortable questions. When the shirt was off, he heard Apollo make a small gasp. Percy didn't blame him. It was not pretty. A few scars were scattered across his chest, and a few belt marks were scarred at his back. Percy felt Apollos warm finger trace one of the scars on his back. "What happened." He asked. Percy stared at his feet and bit his lip. "Stepfather." That was all he said. Gabe had promised that if he ever told anyone, he would kill him. But since he already had kicked him out, Percy took his chances. "Have you told anyone about this?" Apollo asked concerned. "No." Percy said. "I kept it from mum, and just got worse after she died. No other friends or family to tell." "Well, now you do." Apollo said. "And we will fix this. Your rib is just bruised. Take it easy for a few days, and it will be fine." Apollo handed Percy his shirt. "I have a twin, Artemis, she is a detective that specialises in abuse on women. I will call her and ask her to take a look at your stepfather's file." He said. "Thanks." Percy said. "Appreciate it." "That is what family is for." Apollo said cheerfully. "Well, I haven't had much of a family around when I grew up." Percy said. Apollo placed a hand on his shoulder. "Talk to your father." He said. "He cares much more than he shows. He loves you." With that, he walked out. 

"Miss Chase." Apollo said as Annabeth came in when he walked out. "Apollo." She greeted. She walked over to Percy. "I have talked to your father." She said. "Why did you do that?" He asked and jumped off the table. "He is your father Percy." Annabeth exclaimed. "He needed to know. And now you are going to live at Plaza Hotel till you graduate." "What!" Percy said. "I can take care of myself." "Oh yeah?" Annabeth said. "Then where are you going to sleep tonight? On a bench in the park?" "If I had to, then yes." Percy said. "Don't be ridiculous." Annabeth said. "Let's go. Malcolm is waiting in the car." Percy didn't move. He stared at his reflection in a medicine cabinet in the corner. He didn't know he looked that bad at the moment. His jaw was blue and swollen. Purple bags below his eyes. He looked tired. And for once, Percy let himself be tired. Annabeth walked over to him and placed a hand on his. shoulder. "Hey, it's alright." She said. "It's a lot to take in." "My whole life changed after two hours." Percy stated. "Fair point." Annabeth said. "But the point is, it's ok to be tired and wanting nothing more than to walk away. Rest for a couple of days. Let it sink in and talk with your father." Percy nodded. "Ok." He said weakly. He didn't have the brain capacity at the moment to argue. Annabeth grabbed his arm gently and guided him out of the hospital, and back to the car. Percy rested his head on the window and stared at the buildings and people passing by. The cold glass felt good to his forehead. He closed his eyes and let it cool him down.

Percy must have dozed off. Annabeth shook his shoulder. "We are here." She said. Percy sighed and followed her out of the car. They walked in silence through the lobby, and into the elevator. The music during the ride up was all one could hear in the small metal box going up to the top floor. The ding marked the end of the ride. Percy followed Annabeth down the fancy, golden collared hallway, but in another door than the one they had entered earlier that day. Annabeth took out a key and opened it. The lock clicked and she walked in. "This will be your room." Annabeth said as Percy came in after her. Percy looked around in what looked like a suite. They stood in a large room. The walls were light blue and most of the furniture was white. A large bed stood at one side of the room, while a seating area with couches and chairs were on the other. There was also a small dining table with six chairs. Large windows covered one side of the wall and a door in the corner led to something Percy guessed was the bathroom. "I'll see you tomorrow morning." Annabeth said and walked out. Percy just stared at the door after she left. for the first time since Gabe kicked him out, Percy had the time to process everything that had happened. His head was aching. Too much over little time. He walked over to one of the dining chairs and sat down. He rested his head in his hands. It was too much. His life changed in one afternoon. He had planned for months, to graduate, move to another city, and find a job. Getting a life. A family. Somewhere far, far away from where he had endured pain and agony. His head just hurt more. It was pounding, and it was getting hard to breath. Percy thought his heart stopped for a second when someone placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw a pair of eyes that could have been his own. Percy hurried to dry away tears that were streaming down his face. Poseidon stood next to him with a worried look. "Are you alright Percy?" Poseidon asked. Percy looked away. "What do you think?" He said. "Annabeth told me everything." Poseidon said. "Percy, why didn't you tell me earlier? You can talk to me." "Yeah, well it's a little hard to tell someone you have just met that you have a drunken, abusive stepfather who kicked you out." Percy replied and stood up on shaky legs. He stared at the wall. His head was still pounding, and he felt tears starting to build up. Poseidon walked over to him and placed his hands on Percy's shoulders. "It is alright to cry, Percy." He said and wrapped his arms around his son. "There is no shame in that." Percy hesitated. he hadn't had a hug since his mother had died, but he returned the embrace. Finally letting days, weeks, months and years worth of tears, flow. Years of frustration and pain, letting it all out. Poseidon led Percy to the bed and sat him down. Percy didn't know how long he was crying, but after a while, Poseidon crouched down in front of him and handed him a plastic cup with some liquid in. But it was not water. "Drink." He said. "It will help." Percy couldn't think. His head was all cramped up, so he did the most reasonable thing he could think of. Drinking the mysterious contents in the cup. It tasted bitter, but Percy could feel its power momentarily. His eyelids felt heavy, and his mind fuzzy. He didn't even notice Poseidon lay him down on the bed. "Sleep." Percy heard Poseidon say. And that is exactly what he did.