"You may go in to see him, but be careful: he can't deal with any stress at the moment." The mortals watched as the demigods' and family's faces lit up.

Sally, Paul, Annabeth, Nico, Thalia and Poseidon got up to go. Clarisse put a hand out to stop Thalia as she did though. 

"Tell him he's an idiot or me, OK?" Thalia smiled at the warrior.

"Don't worry. I was going to anyway."

The children in the waiting room decided to try to question the other 'demigods' some more as Percy's hospital room door clicked shut behind the entourage.

"How old are most of you guys at your camp?" Matt wasn't exactly eloquent, but he was undersstood. It was Nico who answered.

"For a long time seven was the youngest, that was Annabeth actually, she's been at camp the longest, but now that out searchers are getting better and the 'Gods'," he made sure to use air quotes, "are paying more attention, we've got some as young as four."
"They're going to be pros if they get to our age." Joked Leo. All the demigods laughed and nodded, but the mortals shivered and frowned at the 'if' in his statement. They didn't think they'd ever get used to the idea of young children fighting just to get to their teens.

"What about that girl, Thalia, why's she wearing a tiara?" They snorted, Leo actually falling from his chair as he laughed. Piper explained, taking pity on the perplexed expressions that the mortals were sporting. She smiled kindly.

"It's a circlet, don't let her hear you call it a tiara; only Nico and Percy can get away with that alive and even they get a beat down for it; and it's a sign of office. Thalia is the Lieutenant of Artemis." This didn't clear up anything for the confused mortals, so she kept going as Jason hauled Leo up into his chair by the back of his shirt. The mechanic was still laughing, "The Hunters of Artemis are an elite group of girls who travel the world hunting...our enemies, Thalia is their leader. If it weren't for what happened to Percy, Thunderface would be off leading them in Arizona right now." She smiled as comprehension dawned.

Then Frank added to the explanation of their ranks, they'd all decided to tell these mortals basically everything, just omitting the supernatural elements. Anything to help Percy as much as possible. After this, he needed the support, and these mortals wouldn't be able to provide it if they didn't understand at least the basics.

"Nico, Percy's cousin (he's the kid who just left with the others) he's his father's lieutenant. His father, we nicknamed  him Hades, is one of the three generals of their generation and he has a large force, but the others don't trust him much and he doesn't have many allies or children. Nico is one of only two of his remaining children and he is his father's prince, his right hand man, he deals with enforcing the law within his father's domain and commands the fighting force when Hades is otherwise occupied." He took a breathe, "Geez, talking like that makes me feel like Jason when hes being all 'I'm-the-ambassador-and-must-be-official'." The other demigods laughed, even some of the mortals did, though they didn't understand the subtext.

At this point one of the teachers decided to speak up again, it was Mr Brexly  this time and he was curious about how this all worked and, as it was the most relaxed it'd been since they first arrived and the 'demigods' as they called themselves were the most forthcoming they'd been, he decided to take his chance now.

"So you're a military operation. How does rank work?" This time they all differed to Jason. His brow creased as he thought for a moment before answering, marshalling his thouhgts like the soldiers he commanded.

"Well we have the 'Gods', our parents, and the two camps, which we based on the Greek and Roman Pantheons-we like to keep it organised-we value tradition and it keeps moral up. So we have the Greek camp, Percy's original camp, and the Roman one. Except each didn't know the other existed for a long time, but that's off track."
"So we've got the two camps, lets start with the Greeks, they're a lot less organised," Clarisse threw  a pencil at his face, "I mean formal, a lot less formal than the Romans. In the Greek camp we're sorted by who our parent is and put into cabins from that, then within those cabins are the councillors, usually the oldest campers in the cabin but sometimes just those that proved themselves or where chosen (like Piper here)," He gestured to his girlfriend, "and they're who make all the big decisions within the cabin. Then of course you have Percy and Annabeth, they're the unofficial, but definitely recognised, leaders of the Greek camp, as well as councillors for their respective cabins, and finally there's Chiron, the 'activities director' and Mr D, who watches over us but really doesn't want to. And that just about sums up the Greek camp." The other demigods nodded along, he had summarised it pretty well.

"Then the Roman camp is a bit more complicated, we're split into cohorts, forming a legion all together, and we're not sorted by parent. To get into a cohort you need someone to vouch for you, then you have a probationary period before becoming a full member and eventually rising in the ranks. Each cohort is lead by their centurions and the legion is lead by the two praetors. Within this, Percy was a praetor and is now viewed as an honorary one by the legion, though I don't think he knows that. Basically, each camp has their inner workings and ranks, but certain individuals are respected by everyone and Percy is seen as a leader by everyone. Every demigod on this Earth would follow Percy Jackson into battle at any time if he asked us to, and even if he didn't."

(A/n: Please comment to correct me if I got anything wrong in that or I missed it out, or PM me if that's easier.)

Mr Brexly was shocked into silence for a minute: though none of the mortals doubted that they had fought anymore, the adults hadn't been expecting such a sophisticated hierarchy system. It really was as efficient, possibly even more so, than any other military. And it was made of children.

They continued discussing the specifics like Jason's role as ambassador, what the councillors actually did and how the roles and duties changed during war time until they heard an alarm.

It rang through the entire hospital and suddenly doctor after doctor after nurse was streaming in and rushing to Percy's room. Some of the demigods and adults were standing up, trying to go figure out and see what was happening, but they all fell terrifyingly still as the group who'd gone to see Percy were manoeuvred out of his room, very clearly crying and distraught. Thalia was screaming as Nico held her back.

Their hearts dropped.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Poseidon self-consciously tugged at his shirt as he stepped into his son's room with the others. Percy looked so different to when he'd last seen him. The father and son didn't always see eye-to-eye but they did love each other and seeing Percy like this was enough to make Poseidon's stomach clench and the seas around the world get just that bit more dangerous for unsuspecting travellers.

"H-hey guys." The wounded demigods eye widened. "D-dad?" Poseidon smiled at his son.

"Hello, Percy." Percy smiled at him through the breathing tubes and monitors. He was obviously having a bad day, he looked more tired than last time they'd visited him. Apparently, according to the doctors, his last operation had been hard on him, but he was recovering. They said he should be fine, though the next couple of days would be critical. He'd survived torture, his lungs filling with blood, his heart stopping, the ride to the hospital, countless operations, being sewn back together and a coma, and that was just in the last few days, not even considering his life as a demigod. He could survive this.

"Hey, Kelphead. How's it hanging?" Nico and Thalia smiled at their cousin, covering up their concern and shock admirably. They'd seen him half dead before and they knew when he needed a joke.

Percy's expression proved that he would've laughed if he could have, instead he grinned happily at them.

"Pretty...alright. I...look better...than you...anyway." Nico stuck his tongue out at his cousin like the mature Ghost King he was. 

"Yeah well, for once I'm not the only one looking like death." The darker cousin teased Percy. The son of Poseidon smiled at him, most mortals would've been shocked and horrified by what the three cousins were saying considering the circumstances, but right now, it was exactly what Percy needed. The last thing he wanted was egg-shell pity. They all knew life got rough sometimes and they knew death struck indiscriminately and at any time. After facing monsters and evil deities they weren't going to let something as small as a hospital stay keep them down.

"So...Dad...how's At-Atlantis?" The God of the seas smiled at his son's attempt at conversation.

"We are well, Triton has been leading one of his forces in an exploration, they've been looking into the deeper regions of my domain. It's become something of a pet project for him, but everyone is worried about you, my boy." Sally stroked her son's hair as they spoke and Percy smiled at the news.

"Tell me...if...they find....anything...cool, O-OK?" Poseidon smiled at the enthusiasm his son showed, he'd always been fascinated with Atlantis.

"Of course, son." Percy grinned tiredly at him, he shifted slightly in his bed grimacing in pain.

"What's wrong, Percy?" His mother was instantly worried.

"It's...fine...mom....my chest...just...aches...is...all." He smiled reassuringly at her before turning back to his dad and trying to change the subject. "How's...T-Tyson?"

"He's fine, enjoying the work in the forge and counting down until his holidays, which he's still trying to decide whether to spend with you or Ella. I don't think doing both has occurred to him yet." The Godly father smiled at the thought of his youngest son. Percy smiled again aswell, not quite relaxing, but happy hearing about his family.

"I should...should...visit him...some time."
"I think he'd like that."
"Oi! What about us, Kelphead. Have we suddenly become rusted daggers! Cousins over here, when do we get a visit?" They smiled at each other.

"Isn't that....that...what...you're...doing....now?" He tried to be sarcastic but the exhaustion was bleeding through his voice. Sally kept running her fingers soothingly though his inky black hair.

"You OK, baby?" He hummed as his eyes drooped.

"Yeah...just...tired..." He was just drifting off peacefully when he suddenly tensed.

"Percy? Are you OK?" They smiled at him, Sally still stroking his forehead. Percy shifted again, he tried to lift a hand to his chest, but only managed half way.

"Yeah...yeah I-" Then he cut off and suddenly the tension got worse. His entire body became still and he flipped over, his mother pulled her hand back as he vomited over the side of his bed.

Then the seizing started; his muscles contracted and pulled over and over, pulling his limbs forward and back, bending them and throwing them. His body trembled and shook as his own muscles threw him around on the bed. It was violent and painful and sharp.

His family jumped back, screaming for a nurse, a doctor anyone, as Percy writhed on the bed, his IV tearing from his wrist, srying blood, his head slamming into the back of his bed, his stitches tearing and his eyes rolling back, exposing the whites.

"SOMEONE! HELP!" 

Annabeth stared, for a moment frozen, unable to move, tears streaming from her eyes, then she snapped back.

"We need help! Nurse!" She called in a voice that had traversed battlefields and the very gates of Hell.

As the nurses and doctors and assistants and staff rushed in, filling the room, the family were carefully pulled out. Annabeth tried to fight them, to stay by his side like they always had, but she couldn't, she caught a glimpse of his flailing body as she was pulled out. There was nothing she could do.

She watched as Percy threatened the Goddess, his words echoing through the cavern of Tartarus they were in. She stood, frozen, unable to help as he raised his hand and tortured the Goddess of Misery, an action which obviously hurt him more than the Goddess. She watched as he brought the poison towards the deity and moisture rained from his eyes. She watched as he struggled and fought with something she could never understand.

There was nothing she could do.

Poseidon was terrified. For the first time in a long, long time, the God of the Seas was terrified. He lived through millennium, war after war, pain and death and tragedy one after another he'd always faced it, he was a God after all and he'd faced it without blinking because they'd all be with his brother in a few decades anyway. But it was always his demigod children that hurt him, seeing them fight and die. But he had grown used to it. After hundreds and thousands of years, he'd numbed himself to it. But seeing his Percy writhing and twisting on that bed brought everything back. He was one of the most powerful of the Olympians, but right now, he was powerless. 'Impassive as a God' they said, because there was nothing he could do.

He watched over a one sided Iris message  as Percy's stepfather got up, beer bottle in hand and started screaming at the seven year old. Hurling insults and glass and punches one after the other and the seas almost froze over, storm surges and tsunamis crashing against the shore as Poseidon was forced to stand by and watch. Another kick hit the boy in the ribs. There were Ancient Laws: there was nothing he could do.

Nurse Patricia carefully guided the family out of the room to let the doctors work. She felt for them as they screamed and cried. The boy was seizing on the bed and there was nothing they  could do. So she got them out of there and let the blond girl cry into her shoulder when she latched onto the closest person for comfort. 

The poor family, they'd been through so much, this was the last thing they needed.

So the nurse of twenty years did the only thing she could do, she ran her hand up and down the blond's back and let her cry as the door to the poor boy's room slammed shut.