Heroes of Olympus/Magnus Chase Sickfics

Mi Luz

"Who in Hades are you?"

A woman stood on the opposite side of the room from Leo. He couldn't tell much about her features, it was like she was blurry around the edges. Leo rubbed his eyes and squinted. The woman had shoulder length black hair and curls to rival Hazel. She wore a simple white t-shirt with a pair of jeans. She had something red in her front right pocket that Leo recognized as an oil rag. Leo looked at her face and almost fell down again.

"M-mom?" Tears automatically sprang to his eyes.

"Hello mi luz."

Leo had so many questions, but couldn't make any of them pass his lips. All he could do was run and wrap his arms around his mother's waist.

"H-how? The machine shop, I-I watched it burn." Leo buried himself in his mother's scent, she smelled of oil, tamales, and there was a faint scent of something Leo had always just described as the "mom smell".

"That's not important now. All that matters is that I'm here." She wrapped her arms around Leo and pulled him even closer to her.

"I can't stay long. I just had to see you."

"Why can't you stay? Is someone after you? I can keep you safe."

"No no, nothing like that. You look like you're sick. You should lie down."

"I'm fine if you're here." Leo coughed loudly and had to grab his mother for support when he was sent into a full on coughing fit.

"You were always so stubborn when you were sick. It's good to see some things haven't changed. Go lie down, I'll sit with you until you fall asleep."

"B-but I have so many questions!"

"Shh. Rest now."

Leo wanted to do anything but rest, but at his mother's words he felt his eyelids grow heavy. He let himself be led to the couch again and his mother tucked the blankets around him then knelt on the floor and started to run her fingers through his curls. He was asleep again within a matter of minutes.

When Leo woke again it was dark out and he was surprised with the amount of people in the room. He looked around and saw Jason, Piper, and Will for some reason. The only person he didn't see was his mother.

"What's up guys? Are we having a party? You'll never believe what happened while you were gone, Jason."

Leo looked around and realized he was no longer in his and Jason's apartment.

"Where am I? When did I get here?

Will spoke first.

"Leo, what is the last thing you remember?"

"Um," Leo thought back. "Jason left for his date with Piper and I was at the apartment. Then the most insane thing happened! I saw my mom you guys! She's okay. I don't know how or why, but she's okay. Where is she? You guys have to meet her."

Everyone looked at Leo with a mixture of shock and something else. Was it pity? A heavy silence filled the room. Will was the one to speak once again.

"Leo, you took more of that cold medicine, didn't you?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"How much did you take?"

"I don't know. I tried to get it as close to what Jason gave me."

"You took almost double the dose you needed. Jason came back to the apartment and found you passed out on the couch. When you woke up you started talking about your mother. You were hallucinating. Jason called me and we brought you to the hospital. You've been asleep here for almost two days."

"No. but, my mom." Leo's face fell and he felt tears spring to his eyes.

Piper stepped forward and took Leo's hand in her own.

"Guys, give us a minute."

Jason and Will filed out of the room. Jason gave Leo one last look over his shoulder and looked like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it.

Once they were alone Piper spoke up.

"So."

"So."

"I'm so sorry Leo."

"It feels like I lost her all over again." Leo let the tears fall freely now.

"Shh. It's going to be okay."

"She used to call me mi luz. It means my light. She said I was her light at the end of the tunnel. I was the reason she kept going and working at the machine shop, even when everyone was against her and told her to quit." Leo sniffled and Piper handed him a tissue.

"She sounds amazing. I wish I could have met her."

"You remind me of her. You have the same light in your eyes."

"She sounds just like you."

Leo smiled.

"I guess I should tell the nurse that you woke up. I bet you're starving."

"I could totally go for a cheeseburger right now!"

"How about some broth?" Will asked from the door.

"After that much medication, you're stomach is going to be pretty tender for a few days." Will set a cup of broth down in front of Leo. Leo made a face.

Piper raised an eyebrow and Leo sat up a little straighter.

"Mm. Broth." Leo took a large slurp and immediately understood what Will meant.

The broth made an immediate reappearance inside the small pan Will thrust under his chin.

"Okay. How about we take it slow." Offered Jason.

Leo took a tiny sip this time and was relieved when it didn't come back up.

Soon enough, the doctor came in and told Leo that he would have to stay the night for observation, but was free to go home in the morning. Leo beamed when he was told that he would be able to sleep in his own bed. His grin faltered when the doctor told him that he was on strict bed rest for at least five days.

"Seriously? I cannot lay in bed for that long. I'll go insane."

"We'll all take it in shifts to make sure you keep your sanity." Said Piper.

The next morning Leo was resting comfortably in his bed and the next five days were filled with a running rotation of all of his friends keeping him company, making sure he didn't strain himself, and carefully measuring his medication.

Leo was still sad when he thought about the dream (hallucination) about his mother, but if he couldn't have his mother, he was glad to have his friends. They were his light.