ᴾʰᵒᵇᵒᵖʰᵒᵇⁱᵃ [ᴶᵃˢᵒⁿ ᴳʳᵃᶜᵉ]

xvi.

"Fine with me," Percy rolled his shoulders and winced, pausing and slowly lowering them whilst sucking his teeth. "The sea is good."

"Speak for yourself," Hazel glanced at the sunset and shivered, "We need to go fast. We've burned another day, and Nico only has three more left."

"We'll make it," Aza said firmly, more so to comfort herself, and she gritted her teeth slightly. She glanced at her companions, "We just need to be hasty."

Frank grunted, "Is there any good news?"

"Actually, yes," Leo nodded, "According to Festus, our flying table, Buford, made it back safely while we were in Charleston, so those eagles didn't get him. Unfortunately, he lost the laundry bag with your pants."

"Dang it!" Frank snapped his fingers and said, "My pants!"

"We'll find pants for you," Annabeth said, but before she could continue her boyfriend doubled over and groaned, "Did the world just turn upside down?"

Aza placed a hand on Jason's bicep when he pressed his hands to his head, as if Percy's pain had made him remember his own. He squeaked slightly, "Yeah, and it's spinning. Everything is yellow. Is it supposed to be yellow?" For a moment, Aza couldn't tell if he was being dramatic, but when his glossy eyes stared right through her, she bit the inside of her cheek and felt his forehead, which was hotter than usual.

Aza knelt beside him and quietly asked, "You okay, Jase?"

When he didn't respond, she glanced at Annabeth and raised a brow, "Summoning that storm took all the energy out of you. You've got to rest."

Annabeth nodded, "Frank, can you help us get the guys below deck?"

Aza rolled Jason off her shoulders and onto the bed in the sickroom. He squirmed to get comfortable, giving her a small smile. As Frank and Annabeth entered, supporting Percy, he muttered out of the corner of his mouth, "I don't know how to feel about the fact that you can lift me like a sack of potatoes."

"Would you rather I have made you walk? I don't have to help you, Zappy." She offered him a mischievous smile, and he rolled his eyes. Annabeth handed her a wet washcloth, and after watching her best friend place it on Percy's forehead, Aza did the same. Jason chuckled, "The room is spinning like a top. That feels nice."

"You must be exhausted," She reached forward and brushed his hair away from his forehead. His eyes slowly closed, and he nodded, his lips curling - she thought he almost looked like a sleeping kitten. Aza flipped the washcloth once his body heat had warmed the side on his forehead. She was about to offer him more water when the ship's bell rang.

Her head snapped up, and she and Annabeth looked at each other, their faces mirroring each other: raised eyebrows, wide, owl-like eyes, slightly agape mouths. Frank coughed, "That sounds bad. Do you think–"

The ship lurched, and he stumbled against the wall. Aza's hands snapped to grip onto Jason's bed, and she reached an arm around his abdomen to lash him down like a seatbelt as the ship tilted to a violent angle, and then rocked back. He rolled slightly in her grasp, and she forced her arm tighter around his abdomen, trying her best to keep him from rolling off. The bell rang even louder.

"Annabeth, Frank," Aza stood to her feet, when the ship rocked back, holding her arms out to steady herself, "We have to get to the deck."

"Wait for me," Percy slowly forced himself up, leaning back on his forearms at first and then slowly pushing up to rest on his palms. Annabeth shook her head, mouthing silently, but he gently nudged her away and stood from the bed; she instantly had to hold him to balance him. Jason, of course, couldn't be outdone - he, too, pushed away Aza's attempt to keep him in bed and stood, and didn't allow her to carry him up the stairs. She cursed and called after him, "You're gonna trip and hurt yourself, you hard-headed little Roman!" Aza had to race after them, and she held her arms out behind her boyfriend in case he fell backwards.