Archive of Our Own ^beta

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I woke up woozy, having a headache. I opened my eyes and saw wooden boards above me signaling I was on the bottom bunk of the Apollo cabin. I felt something soft and fluffy under me, which is certainly weird knowing I was last in the infirmary filling out some paperwork. I sat up in the bunk and looked around and saw something weird, most of the bunks around me were filled which hasn’t happened since before the war.

It threw me off so much I got out of bed, quickly and quietly. I mean there has always been a bunch of Apollo kids, or well enough especially after the war. Will was used to seeing maybe 10 to 20 kids in the Apollo cabin at once. Depending on the time of the year because some were all year campers while others left to visit their parents. So seeing 20 out of the 25 bunk beds filled meaning there’s 40 kids in the cabin really threw me off. The only time there’s been this many Apollo kids was… before the war. Am I..this can’t be.. the past. I move on instinct towards a bunk that’s been vacant for as long as I can make sure it is. Michael's and Lee’s.

Lee’s was on the bottom while Michael slept on the top bunk. I remember my first night at camp Lee was the one to realize my parentage and accepted me so very quickly into the Apollo cabin. As Lee was showing me around a very hyper Michael jumped onto his back, Lee grunted and looked annoyed at Michael. But you could see Lee really loved Michael, even as Lee said “Go away you little rat” Michael acted offended but was smiling not even a second later.

“Who’s this little ray of sunshine?” Michael asks, looking for more like cooing at me. “I’m not little, I am 7” But it sounded more like “Ah’m not li’l, Ah’m seh-vuhn” with my country accent. I insisted on trying to glare at Michael to prove my point, but it looked more like I was squinting at him. “Awww” Michael and Lee cooed in sync, making me blush. “Okay, sorry Michael meet William Sol-“ “Will” “Sorry, Will meet Michael Yew” “Hi I’m Michael, son of Apollo, the best one may I add” Michael said with a cocky grin, while putting his elbow on top of Lee’s shoulder. Lee knocked Michael's elbow away and swatted at Michael. “Well Will, let’s go see where you might be placed.” Lee said, pushing Michael away and putting his arm around my neck.

“Oh Lee, I made my decision on whether I want top or bottom bunk," Michael said, turning towards Lee with a serious face. Lee raised his eyebrow as if to ask ‘well?’. I remember thinking it was so cool how they could understand each other so well and be so close, I wanted to have that with somebody. “The top bunk is obviously what I want because it’s reserved for only the coolest of people!” Michael exclaimed. Lee rolled his eyes and nodded as if to say ‘thanks Michael’. Michael must’ve wanted to tell Lee the bunk situation because he left shouting “Bye guys see you later!” “Okay Will now let’s go to the archer-“ “Will?” I blink back to the dark Apollo cabin. My cheeks feel wet, I realize I’m crying, no scratch that I’m practically sobbing. In the middle of the cabin, I’m standing here like an idiot crying because I miss my brothers who’ve been dead for over 3 years. God I’m going to work myself into a panic attack because I miss them so much. I didn’t realize I didn’t answer until the voice spoke again.

“Sunshine? Are you okay?” I looked up and saw..no..it couldn’t..holy shit. My breathing immediately picked up and I saw Lee get up and get off his bunk and towards me. “Hey it’s okay Will, what happened honey? Was it a dream or nightmare?” Lee put his hand on my shoulder and was questioning me so rapidly, while looking me up and down. Geez, is this what I look like when my kids get hurt? I have to apologize to them, if I ever see them again in my timeline. Seeing Lee or more like having Lee there to comfort me just broke me. Through my sobs I tried to say I was okay but even I could tell it wasn’t convincing. The look Lee gave me solidified my point. I haven’t seen that look in 3 years..3 years oh my gosh! I’m practically sobbing at this point and I can’t breathe. Lee opened his arms and stepped towards me. I took a step back and felt my empty bunk behind me with my hand. Lee immediately took a step back and raised his arms next to his head. As if saying ‘okay, I won’t come near you again sorry’.

God! I hate this, I hate the fact that I'm crying over Lee. I’m crying over Lee, Lee Fletcher, my brother, my idiot perfect amazing terrible and very dead brother. “Sunshine, I'm going to give you a hug, okay?” Lee spoke to me, opening his arms and stepping towards me slowly. I nodded and prepared myself to be hugged. (Even though it was by one of my favorite brothers; more like my favorite dead brother.) Lee hugged me loosely to give me space to leave if I wanted to get out, I know because I do the same thing helping campers when they have panic attacks or anxiety attacks.

Feeling Lee’s warm embrace broke the final piece holding me together. I held on to him so tightly and just let my facade drop. “Shhh it’s okay Willie, you don’t have to say what happened but I’ll be here for you okay, always and forever” Lee said trying to calm me down, but it did the opposite. I made the last steps towards my bed and sat down, putting my back against the wall. Lee stepped towards me as I started sobbing even harder that I don’t think I was breathing at all. I wanted to scream at him because no Lee you won't be here for me forever. I get 3 more years with you before you leave me, leave us, leave everyone. I realize I’ve been given a second chance by..the fates?

So I did what I always did, I sucked it up and tried to stop crying. Lee immediately realized what I was trying to do and said “Hey Will, no let it out okay? It’ll only be worse if you keep it in.” I shook my head and wiped my tears away from my face. “I’m okay. I’ll be okay, Lee okay?” I said, shooting him a small smile. Lee wiped my tears away and smiled at me sadly. “But I’m here so you don’t have to be okay. You can just be my Will, my little brother.” He said, jabbing my side, trying to make me giggle. For Lee I let out a giggle and that eventually turned into a laugh, not a real one but a good laugh. “Wanna tell me what made you go into an almost panic attack?” Lee asked me, and oh I want to tell him the truth but I can’t.

So I instead say, “I had the w-wor-worst dream ever. You died, and Mikey died, and everyone died except Kayla and Austin and I. It was like a war and you were gone and everyone was gone and I was ALONE!" My voice got more shaky and loud as I went on to explain my life. I realized that I spoke too loud when another voice entered the conversation. “Willie, was that you? Are you okay?” A groggy Michael asked. “I’m fine Michael, go back to sleep” I told him quickly. Michael didn’t listen and got up and practically threw his blanket off him and climbed down his bunk. Lee watched him and I with a watchful eye.

As Michael came closer he saw my face and asked “Willie, are you okay sunshine?” I nodded and he looked at me skeptical. “Will, don’t lie to me now, what happened? Don’t say ‘nothing’ because Lee wouldn’t be there holding you if you were okay.” I didn’t know how to respond without breaking down. His voice sounded just like it did when he was commanding the battle on the bridge.

That GODDAMN BRIDGE! THE ONE THAT FELL ON HIM-my breath picked up and I couldn’t breathe again. I was seeing the moments I last saw Michael and Lee before they died. “Will, honey, it’s okay you need to breathe.” Lee told me while putting his hands on my shoulders. The shoulders that carry it all, all the stress, all the pressure, everything. My breath hitches as Lee’s hands leave my shoulders, he’s leaving me again. “Are you okay now?” Michael asked while looking at me concerned. I wipe my face more aggressively then I need to because god I’m so embarrassed right now and suddenly tired. When I let out a yawn both Michael and Lee cooed at me, making me even more embarrassed. I tried to cover my quickly heating up face but Michael stopped my hands. He looked at me seriously “Will tell me more about this dream that has you in shambles.

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I tried to cover my quickly heating up face but Michael stopped my hands. He looked at me seriously “Will tell me more about this dream that has you in chambles.”

“I-I can’t” God I sound so pathetic. I mean I fought in war, surely I can tell my two brothers about a dumb dream. “Hey hey, Will it’s okay you don’t need to tell us right now, how about you get some sleep and we’ll talk in the morning.” Lee suggested, while looking at Michael like ‘don’t push it’.

Michael raised his hands slightly and looked back at me. “I’m sorry Willie, you don’t have to tell me,” Michael said while leaning in for a hug. I leaned towards his open arms and felt the warmness of his skin when he hugged me.

Being children of Apollo we usually run warm no matter whether it is day or night. The warmness of Michael’s hands made me feel better almost immediately. I felt my eyes start to droop as Michael lightly rocked me back and forth. I felt someone kiss my forehead and whisper “Goodnight Sunshine” as I slowly fell asleep.

When I opened my eyes and saw the sun just rising I knew I should get up. Sitting up I remembered what happened last night with Lee and Michael and hoped they would drop it, but knowing them that was only the beginning. I sighed and got out of my bunk, grabbing my usual outfit-my camp halfblood shirt and khaki colored shorts.

“Will? What are you doing up at 6:30?” I heard a voice behind me say. I turned and saw Lee just getting out of his bed. “It’s 6:30? I was just going to the infirmary” I replied pointing towards the cabin door. “Why are you going to the infirmary? Are you sick?” Lee says quickly, running up to me and checking me over.

“No Lee I’m okay promise” I look at him a little weirdly because sure I’m in my ten year old body but that’s when I started going to the infirmary to help anyway. “Then why are you going to the infirmary?” He asks, putting his hands on his hips looking me up and down still trying to see if I’m hiding an injury I’m guessing. Then I thought of something, LIE.

“In my dream I saw a vision of me but older, working in the infirmary and I want to train if I’m really doing that.” Why is that the first thing I thought of, I don’t know. Lee will never believe that. “You what? You had a vision? How do you know it was you? I have so many questions, but dad must’ve blessed you or something so go on I guess.” Lee looked at me weirdly but pointed towards the door letting me go.

“Well I’ll see you later.” I said, but it sounded more like a question. As I walked out the door Lee called out to me “Turn on the lights since you’re over there. Oh and don’t forget the keys!” I nodded and turned the lights on and grabbed the keys to the infirmary that hung by the lightswitch. As I closed the cabin door behind me I heard a bunch of groaning.

I sighed as I stepped down the steps, finally feeling free from all the questioning he’s gotten lately. As I passed all the other cabins, I can’t help but think about how different my life is right now. I haven’t really talked to any of my current friends yet, or Nico. My beloved Nico, oh how I miss him. Shit I wonder if I'm missing my time or is time stopped. Yeah I’m not smart enough to worry about time, oh well I’m gonna wish for the best.

By the time I got to the volleyball court, I heard a voice call out, “Hey blondie!” I glanced behind me confused. “Yes you! Son of Apollo, a little help over here!” I stopped and turned around spotting Clarisse stomping towards me dragging something. No, not something, someone I realized when I squinted at it. “Who is that?” I ask, as I start running to her.

“Dylan, this idiot” Clarisse muttered the last part under her breath. Ah Dylan Chambers from the Ares cabin. I make it to Clarisse’s side and wrap Dylan’s arm around my neck. “What happened?” I asked, looking over at her. She just sighed and kept muttering things under her breath. “Clarisse!” When she didn’t respond again, I did what I knew would work. “Sorry Clarisse” I muttered before saying “Status report, Clarisse!”

I felt terrible immediately when she straightened her back and said “Dylan Chambers, 15, fell unconscious after I landed a hit on him.” Right when she finished, a scowl appeared on her face. Before I could utter an apology we arrived at the Big House.

I opened the door for us and led us down the first hallway and to the second door on the right labeled ‘Infirmary’. I unlocked the infirmary door and led all three of us in. “Lay him down right here” I said pointing towards the bed closest to the door. Clarisse nodded and walked towards the bed laying Dylan in it.

“Sorry for earlier Clarisse” I said while looking for bandages, feeling too embarrassed to look her in her eyes. Clarisse made a humming sound, “It’s fine Blondie”, when I looked up at her she made a shrugging gesture. I felt relieved.

I walked over to them when I had the supplies, then dropped the bandages, creams, and ointments on the little table next to the bed. I headed over to the front desk where we keep the forms and opened the drawer and pulled out the needed forms.

“Where did he get hit exactly?” I asked when I made it back to where Clarisse and Dylan were at. Clarisse replied “I hit him around his chest.” I nodded while lifting Dylan’s shirt checking out his torso. The only thing Dylan had to show something happened was a bruise, there was no blood or anything.

I just applied some cream to the area to make sure it wouldn’t hurt as much. “He won’t need any ambrosia because it’s some light bruising. This isn’t enough impact for him to pass out though, do you know what his sleeping and eating habits are like?” I looked at Clarisse once I pulled Dylan’s shirt down.

“Um no, but I have seen him at dinner and it looks like he’s sleeping at night.” Clarisse responds sheepishly, “He was the one who suggested this sparring session, I thought he had some built up anger or something.” Clarisse explained looking down towards her shoes.

“Hey, it’s okay, chill out. It’s not your fault. But since he is in the infirmary you need to fill out an incident report.” I tell Clarisse while handing her a form. She took it while grumbling but worked on it immediately. I also started to work on infirmary reports, I hate this part of paperwork. I have to add every detail of treatment I did and why I did the right thing, and a bunch of boring stuff.

As I finished up I looked up and saw Clarisse was also done. I took the form from her and thanked her, which she responded to with a nod. I walked over to the main desk near the front of the room, grabbed the stapler and stapled the two papers together. As I was putting the papers into the bin, I heard some soft muttering behind my back.