In Time {Solangelo}

~ Nico ~

Nico stared at the ceiling. Why was he in his cabin? Then he remembered he was free. He didn't know if he should be happy or not. He kind of missed Will as annoying as he was... At the same time, he wanted to be alone. He'd been through so much. He got up and dressed, he looked around something was missing. His jacket was gone, Lycaon. The stupid werewolf... Nico sighed and headed for the sword fighting arena.

Nico stepped out of his cabin and felt the sun on his face. Usually, he didn't like the sun but today he didn't mind. It warmed his skin and he realised that he felt stronger, as if all the shadows had been expelled from his body. And that was fine, he'd had enough of the dark for a while. Nico started to walk, heading for the sword fighting arena.

His thoughts wandered, Emmy had said that he should visit Will in the infirmary. He didn't really want to, not because he didn't like Will, but because he didn't think that he could do it. Nico didn't know how he felt about Will. The son of Apollo was stubborn and annoying. On the other hand, Will was kind and nice. He'd taken care of Nico, he'd helped him... Come to think of it Will had saved him.

He approached the sword fighting arena, the sound of swords clanging filled his ears. Nico walked to the doorway and looked inside. Percy was inside, teaching a class. Nico's head spun, Percy was the last person in the world he wanted to see. He turned and walked away.

Across the field, a girl was being carried to the infirmary. As people ran out to help her, a sudden thought occurred to him, Will had helped him and now Will was probably sleep deprived. He was trying to help as much as possible, to make up for all the time he had stayed with Nico.

Nico made up his mind and ran for the infirmary.

* * *

Once inside he followed the girl, she was being carried by two Hermes campers. The girl's blood had dripped on the floor, making a trail. Nico waited a little ways away from her room. He figured that she would be assessed by the head medic and the head medic was of course, Will.

One of the Hermes campers called Will's name. Moments later Will came out of the room across the hall, he looked terrible. As Will went in Nico took a deep breath and followed. From the doorway he studied Will; his shaggy blonde hair was tangled and dirty. His pale blue eyes had dark circles under them and he had an orange camp half-blood T-shirt. His shorts and flip-flops were grubby, just like his shirt. He looked cute. No wait. No. Nico wanted to hit himself.

Nico walked in, Will didn't look up. Nico reached for a pair of surgeons gloves and passed them to Will alongside a square of ambrosia. He fell into a pattern of reaching for things that he hoped would help and passing Will the things he asked for.

* * *

Jason grinned at him, "You went to see Will that's great."

Nico shrugged, "I guess..."

They were at the top of half blood hill, Jason's eyes were glued to the horizon, as if he was looking for Leo, "You know, I don't really know you that well..."

Nico looked over at him, "What do mean?"

"Okay, let's start simple. Favorite colour. Mine's yellow."

"Green," Nico said in a quiet voice, "It reminds me of my sister."

Jason's smile faltered then came back, "Hazel?"

Nico shook his head, "Bianca."

They reached Thalia's tree and Jason scratched Peleus on the top of the head. He turned to Nico, "Charlie is coming back today."

"She was gone?"

Jason nodded, "Ya Chiron gave her permission to go get a demigod since most of the satyrs are helping in the infirmary. The girl is her friend or something."

Nico nodded. Out of the corner of his eye, Nico could see a large figure chasing after two smaller things. Jason took out his sword, "That's them."

Nico nodded and drew his own blade. The beast roared in outrage as the smaller of the two girls kicked it. The other one screamed something and picked up her friend. She ran up the hill as the thing chased her, near the top she set her friend down. Both Jason and Nico rushed forward to help. Jason ran towards the beast and Nico ran to help the girl on the ground, as he got closer he realized the girl wasCharlie.

He dragged her away from the fight, "Stay here," he said.

Charlie sat up, "No I want to help."

"I said stay." he said firmly and Charlie nodded.

He ran over to the other girl, "What's your name?" he asked.

"Kathrine."

"Come on Kathrine, you'll be fine. Jason will kill it."

She shook her head, "It can't be killed."

"It can if you have the right weapons."

"We tried, it just won't die. We had the right weapons. Charlie's bow."

Nico scowled, "Stay here, I'm going to tell Jason."

Nico turned in time to see Jason swing his blade, the imperial gold went right through the things body as if it were smoke, it lumbered past Jason. Nico held his sword ready as the beast charged him. Kathrinr was at his side her fists balled.

"The border!" Jason yelled.

Nico didn't know what he meant.

Her eyes grew wide, "It went through the border..."

Then it clicked, it had gone through the camp border that kept monsters away. But how and why? Then Nico understood, it was simple. It was a bear.

He felt the urge to laugh, "Bear." he said.

"What?"

"It's a bear that's why you can't kill it with celestial bronze, that's why it can get through the border. It's not a monster..."

Kathrine grinned at him and then the bear hit her and sent her flying. A scream filled the air, but it wasn't Kathrine. It was Charlie was on her feet screaming at the bear.

"THAT'S MY FRIEND!!!"

Nico locked eyes with Jason and he nodded.

Nico grabbed Charlie's shirt as she went by. "Stop it." he hissed, "Jasons going to kill it."

A bolt of lightning hit the animal and it fell over. Dead. Charliewas still screaming, she squirmed away and ran to her friend's side. Jason and Nico waited at the top of the hill, once the two girls got to the top Kayley paused, "Come on," Nico said, "You need to get to the infirmary." She nodded and kept walking.

Jason and Charlie were deep in conversation behind them, halfway down the hill Kathrine tripped over nothing and fell down the rest of the hill. Charlie started screaming. Nico ran ahead to Kathrine, put his hand on her bloody shoulder and they both were consumed by the darkness.