The Hidden Son (Percy Jackson / Marvel's Agents of SHIELD Crossover)

16. Two Thousand Dollars Is A Reasonable Price For A Hamburger

          SALLY JACKSON-BLOFIS was not having a good weekend. For one, her toddler had a fever, and she was not handling it well. For another, her adult son had been kidnapped for, like, the third time.

Yesterday, just as she had fed Estelle and set her down in front of Go Diego Go!, Jason and Nico appeared in her living room.

She didn't immediately assume it was bad news. Demigods passed through her house at least twice a week. Sometimes for cookies, sometimes for hugs, advice, or to play Silly McDonald's with Estelle. A lot of the campers didn't have families to go home to. Sally was more than okay to be a substitute.

          Estelle, even sick, was delighted to see the two demigods. They were frequent visitors, and Jason was really good at Silly McDonald's. She squealed and waddled over to Jason. "Up, up, up!" she demanded, her chubby arms outstretched, fingers wiggling. Jason smiled and picked her up. She immediately reached for his face.

         Sally looked up from behind the kitchen counter, where she was cleaning up from lunch. "Hello, boys." She started to take apart the high chair so she could properly wipe it down. "You hungry? Do you want lunch? I can make you lunch."

          Nico waved dismissively. "No thanks, Mrs. Jackson. Just, uh, stopping in."

          Sally laughed a little to herself. Nico was always so formal. "Okay, well, in that case, is everything all right? Do you need anything?"

          The boys sat down at the counter as Sally put the tray from the high chair in the sink. "Um. . .no, not really. Just have to tell you something," Jason said, his voice nasally. Estelle was smushing his nose, Sally could tell. She did it with everyone, all the time.

          Sally turned around to face them, resting her elbows on the counter, and her chin in her hand. She smiled at the three of them. They looked so cute. "Go right ahead."

          "Well, uh. . ." Nico looked nervous. He didn't look her in the eyes.

          Her heart sank. "What is it?"

          "Percy's okay," Jason said quickly, his glasses askew. "Just wanted to tell you that before you got too worried." He closed one eye as Estelle clutched the frames in her tiny fist and tried to take them off.

          Sally was not relieved. "Annabeth?"

          "Also okay," Nico interjected. "But they kinda. . ."

          Sally narrowed her eyes. She wished they would just spit it out. Few things could surprise her at this point. "Kind of what?"

          Nico took a deep breath. "Okay, so they might be a little. . .kidnapped," he said, then stuck his hands out as if trying to protect himself. "But not that kidnapped!" he corrected himself quickly. "Just. . .like, a little."

          "Dude, what?" Jason gave him a weird look, trying to pry his glasses out of the baby's hands without hurting either of them. "You're making it worse! Get to the point, will you?"

          "Okay, fine. I don't think they're in immediate danger. Some government people took them into custody. We tried to break them out, but they wanted to stay and sort it out." Nico furrowed his brow. "Oh. That was easier than I thought."

          Sally rubbed her face tiredly and let out a breath. "Government custody, huh?" Her forehead started to hurt, like someone was trying to shove a hot poker through her skull. She closed her eyes to collect herself, just for a moment. "Well, I suppose it could be worse." She opened up the fridge and grabbed a hard cider. She wasn't normally a day drinker, but it was either that or a new patch of gray hair.