Solangelo 3

WILL

They actually had to drug me to keep me away from Nico this time. I wake groggy, Kayla and Rebs instantly at my side.
'Wha...is he okay?' I ask, trying to sit up.
'Take it easy a sec.' Kayla says, holding me down.
'He's okay.' Reve says, 'he hasn't woken up yet though.'
'He should have woken up. Why hasn't he woken up?' I say, trying to sit up again.
'Will, take it easy, okay?' Kayla insists, 'we will drug you up again if we have to.'
'I'm fine. I'm fine.' I say, 'just let me see him.' They look at each other and then back to me.
'Okay. But no questions, okay? You don't get to know what medication we have him on, how we're treating him, none of that, Alright? You're not involved with him medically.'
'Alright, yes, fine, just let me see him.' I say. Reve helps me up and leads me over to Nico's bed. He looks horrible.
They've properly cleaned his head now, half shaved, half as shaggy as ever. A harsh scar goes across his scalp and just sleeping into his forehead. It's stitched up, but it still looks painful. His arm is in a black cast, already healing.
But he's fast asleep. No sign of waking up.
'I'm just going to...I'm going to stay here.' I say, sitting by his side.
'Will...' Kayla says, sympathetically.
'Kayla, please.' I plead with her, 'just let me stay with him. I can't leave him, okay?'
'Okay.' She says, quietly. She and Reve leave.
'I'm staying here, Nico.' I say to him, 'I'm going to be here when you wake up, okay? So just wake up. I just need you to wake up.'
People come to visit. My sisters come in, and I'm forced to tell them about our mother. We all cry a lot. Piper and Percy are taking care of them both. They leave me with Nico.
'Will you've got to eat.' Kayla says, handing me a sandwich that I hardly touch. She doesn't force me though.
I hold Nico's hand gently. I want him to know I'm close. I hate to think of him in Tartarus alone in his head. I lean against him, carefully, my forehead to his chest.
'Wake up.' I say, desperately, 'please. Please, just. Just wake up.'
He takes a sharp breathe in, as if emerging from water. He grips my hand.
'Will.' He says, his voice hoarse. I jolt up, an exhale of relief escaping me.
'Oh Gods. Nico. I love you, I love you, I thought I lost you, Oh Gods.' I say, holding his face in my hands. I kiss him lightly and quickly, not wanting to upset his breathing. He laughs a little but it quickly turns into a cough. I instantly find him some water.
'I'm fine.' He says, but his voice is weak. He lifts up his good arm to wipe my tears away.
'I thought I lost you.' I say again, resting my head against his shoulder, holding him lightly.
'Can't get rid of me that easy.' He says, 'are your sister okay?'
'They're fine. Everyone's okay.' I assure him, 'everything's okay.'
'Everything's okay.' He repeats, testing it out. It's not something he can say sincerely a lot of the time. He rests his hand against my cheek, smiling up at me a little, 'about time.'

The end.