A/N: Yes, it's still the same weekend. Reyna, Hilda, Frank, Hazel, Percy, Annabeth, Gregor... and another three to the list.
Jason's Flashback
SUNDAY, 22th January
Jason answered the ringing phone with a smile at seeing the ID.
"Hey, Pipes."
Her tone was a contrast to his own, somber and low.
"Jason, is Alfred available? I need you to pick someone up, and fast."
Did someone die?
"Sure. Is it Claire? Annabeth? Hazel? Is someone hurt?"
"I'm giving you the address, you'll know who. Bring her to my house, I'll start getting everything ready."
She hung up and texted him the address of an ordinary square.
Do we know someone in this address? Is it a dangerous neighborhood?
It's not far from here. You want to waste time wondering or just go?
Good point.
***
Jason made Alfred park nearby and walked to the square, trying to see if he recognized someone. He did, even if it was the last person he had been expecting. Walking faster, he stopped and kneeled in front of Mackenzie, who seemed in a state of shock, seeing straight through him. He lightly touched her hand and tried to calm her down when she jumped.
"Hey, it's ok, it's me! John, remember? What are you doing here?"
She started mumbling something he couldn't follow and started crying, hugging herself and rocking her body.
Wow, what kind of a trauma can cause this reaction?
Maybe I should just take her to Piper's.
He tried to hug her gently, mostly to stop her motions. Trying the most soothing voice he could muster, the ones he would use with a scared wolf, he kept saying nonsense to try and get through her walls.
"Hey, it's okay. All is well now. Mitescere. Hoc bonum erit. You're safe now. Ut altum spiritus. It's all better."
Took him almost three minutes, but she finally seemed to calm down enough to look at him and whisper his name in the most pain-filled voice he ever heard.
"John."
Oh, God, is not that she lost the baby? Should we take her to the hospital?
If we don't get her out of here and fast, we will take her for pneumonia.
Jason rubbed her arm, that felt cold to the touch, protected by only a light sweater. Clearly, she left some place warm in a rush, not even grabbing for a thicker coat.
"It's me. Why don't we leave this place? Trish is waiting for us. Let's not make her worry, ok?"
She nodded like an obedient child and started to stand up. He followed her actions and steered her to his car, where Alfred was already opening the backdoor for them. After Jason helped Mackenzie, he nodded to Alfred in thanks.
"To Trish's house, please."
***
Piper was obviously watching from her window, because she opened the door way before they arrived at her front porch. She looked at Mackenzie with a mixture between pain and pity, before masking her expression and adopting the same voice she would use to a child.
"Hi, I was worrying about you. Why don't we go upstairs?"
Jason knew better than to ask what was happening, and just followed them upstairs, where Piper had prepared a guest room to their new friend, though it felt more like rescuing a wounded bird. Piper smiled a bit and talked in the same soothing voice from before, just a bit cheerier.
"Thisis your room. There are some clean clothes there and a nice bathroom with a warm shower just waiting for you. We will be downstairs, take all the time you need, ok?"
She nodded to Jason and both left in silence, going downstairs to wait. Finally, when he was sure they were out of earshot, he asked.
"Piper, what is going on?"
She gave him a helpless look and sat on the couch, turning on the tv, probably just to mask their voices, in case the echo carried them to Mackenzie.
"I don't know much more than you. She called me, already crying so hard, begging for help, because she didn't know who else to ask. After that, I only got some words, but it was enough to make me worry. Family, cousin, baby, house, angry, alone. Whatever happened with her family - and it's a wild guess, but maybe they found out about the baby and didn't react well - left her very shaken."
And I thought your family was messed up.
Thanks.
I'm pretty sure that the moment she gets like, an ounce of her spunk back, she first thing she'll do will be point a finger at our face and say 'I told you so'.
She sighed, casting a worried look to the stairs, before getting back to him.
"When I finally got her to tell where she was, I said I'd get her here and then we would talk. Your house was close, and you were the one she first trusted, so I asked you to pick her up. I prepared a room and she can stay for how long she wants, but... who knows?"
"She was in the cold, dressed too lightly. Do you think we should take her to the hospital?"
"Let's give her this night. If she shows any symptoms in the morning, I'll get her there."
I also think it would be for the best if she didn't go to school for now.
I agree.
"Piper, should we take turns to watch her? I don't think she should be alone or go to school."
"That could be an idea, let's just give her the chance to decide."
***
It took Mackenzie almost two hours to come down, dressed in Trish's pajamas. With a glance, both sprang to action. Piper going to the kitchen, promising to prepare something to eat; Jason gently pulling her to the couch, wrapping her in a soft cover and trying to coax her to choose something to watch while they waited.
At first, he kept a respectable distance, discreetly checking her every twenty seconds. When she started to silently cry again, while still staring at the TV, unmoving, he scooted until he was next to her, putting an arm behind her. It took her a full minute before she gave up and leaned against his side, heavier tears falling while he rubbed her arm gently. He could see Piper coming from the kitchen to see if she was needed, before nodding in approval and going back.
By the time Piper came to tell them it was ready, Mackenzie's tears were mostly gone. She ate in silence, keeping her eyes on her plate. His girlfriend kept sending him anxious glances, but he was just as lost as her. He saw in her eyes she was discussing something with Trish before trying to land a hand on the other girl's shoulder, softly calling out her name.
"Mackenzie..."
"I'm going to bed!"
She sprang from her chair so fast that it startled Piper. By the time they realized what was going on, Mackenzie was already halfway up the stairs. Scrambling to follow her, they arrived in time to hear the lock's click. Piper snorted in frustration, crossing her arms.
So... that went well.
Why do I feel it won't be the last time?
Because she already had communications issues before all this mess and being cast aside by her family certainly won't help?
TUESDAY,24th January
J: How is she?
P: Same. Came down, tried to eat something, threw up an hour later.
P: Kept me company in silence for maybe 40 minutes, but the moment I tried talking...
P: Escaped to her room so fast I can still see the skid marks.
J: I was hoping the problem was me.
J: What are we going to do about tomorrow?
P: I don't know yet.
P: I'm worried about her, but as much as I want to help her, I don't think we can keep this going for more than a week.
After a quick debate on Sunday, they decided Jason would skip classes on Monday to stay with Mackenzie and if they hadn't made any progresses, Piper would skip Tuesday to keep an eye on her.
She's right, of course. This can't keep going.
We need a battle plan.
It's a bit weird how casually you use battle plan instead of just plan.
Why is it weird?
Becausef or us normal people, battle plan is just an expression, but I'm pretty sure you used it literally.
So?
I don't know, I would expect you to keep it for battles, and use only'plan'.
Either way, it doesn't change the fact that this situation with Mackenzie is quickly getting out of control.
I get that she went through a trauma, but she needs to understand that if she wants our help, she needs to allow us to help.
"JOHN!"
He jumped in surprise, turning to find Kyle beside him, staring at him intently.
"What!?"
"Are you ok, man? You got lost there for a second."
"Yeah yeah, I just- don't worry."
He saw Kyle's expression switching to concern.
"Are you sick? Is that why you didn't come yesterday?"
"No, I'm not sick, just have a lot in my head. Just... like you said. Got lost for a second."
For a moment he feared the other guy would insist, but after a moment he relaxed and flicked Jason's forehead.
"I don't know where you went there, but if you don't get back before coach gets here, he WILL murder you. And us by default."
Jason was still rubbing his forehead, and Kyle's playful reactions were never light.
"Yeah, sorry, I'll be okay."
"I hope so."
***
He stretched his arms over his head, feeling more than hearing the cracks along his spine.
Coach was really inspired today.
We missed yesterday. And unless you're already dying, like, half body cut off, he doesn't excuse absences.
Yeah, I can feel it.
He could see Kyle approaching with his peripheral vision, but pretended he didn't, knowing his friend was sure to start a conversation.
"John?"
"What?"
"Are you sure you don't need to talk?"
"No, I'm good, really."
When Kyle clasped his shoulder, he could feel it physically moving half an inch down by the force behind the gesture.
"You look really worried, you know. Not grades worried, but personal life worried."
"Yeah... something happened, but I'm okay."
Knowing what was coming by John's correct interpretation of Kyle's raised eyebrows, Jason was able to hold his ground when Kyle shook his shoulder instead of losing his balance.
"You know that if you need, you can talk to me, right?"
"Thanks, Kyle, but it's someone else and I... I'd need their permission first."
His friend nodded in understanding before releasing his shoulder.
"It's cool, just let me know if I can help."
"Yeah, thanks."
WEDNESDAY, 25th January
Because he had football practice, it was decided that Piper would skip Wednesday. The moment coach freed them, he set to her house, somewhat worried by her monosyllabic responses to his texts over the day. Opening her door with the extra key she had given him, Jason found her sprawled on her couch, nursing a glass with something which, despite the mood, he doubted it was alcohol. He sat beside her, taking her free hand.
"How did it go?"
He could imagine the answer by her defeated pose, but he knew she needed a push to start talking.
"I don't think we qualify. At least, I'm certain I don't qualify to help her."
Wow. She broke Piper AND Trish. Clearly, we've underestimated her.
He patted her hand gently.
"You're better than you think."
She let out a sardonic laugh, raising her glass to toast the air over an irony he couldn't yet grasp.
Now we need to find a way to fix Mackenzie AND them.
"Jason, the closest I got to a pregnant woman is Mellie, and I don't think she counts. I mean, while it was just lending an ear and maybe hold her hand during the ultrasound it was fine, it was something I could do easily, what I didn't know, the internet would answer. But now she went through a hell of a trauma, is basically homeless and crying herself to sleep every night and also during the day, refusing to leave the house for anything. I practically had to wrestle her into a shower and she screeched like a freaking harpy from camp. Tried to claw her way out of it like one too."
Can't say I'm not happy to have avoided that.
Instead of getting better, it seems we're only making it worse.
"I lured her to the kitchen with food. She tried to escape as soon as she finished and I held her hand to stop her, I wanted to convince her to at least listen. She grasped her plate with her other hand and freaking shattered it against the table."
She shivered and he moved his free hand to gently rub her back.
"I know she likely did it to distract me and escape, but Jason, she broke a freaking plate less than two feet from me. AND kept a shard in her hand. I had to let go of her because I had no idea what she intended to do with that. Thank gods she didn't take it to her room."
He could hear the quiver in her voice and felt her clammy hand is his. Knowing that Piper could even keep her cool against Medea, an army of gemini and even Gaia herself, he knew the experience must've been quite shocking to affect her like this.
Maybe because Mackenzie is just a normal, human, scared girl. She's not a monster set on killing you.
She's not an enemy we can face, but a friend we can't help.
Piper's voice got some of its strength back and her jaw set showed her conviction.
"She's not only upset; she's clearly not in her right mind. I know we promised to do our best to help her, but nothing in our experience has prepared us for this. And I guess that John is as clueless as Trish. We need a grown-up, a real one, not kids who grew up too fast. My father is not even here. I doubt John's sister would be much better. We have no one."
He didn't know if it was his eagerness to remove that hopelessness that had started to insert itself on her last sentence, but for him, the answer was clear as day.
"... We might have someone."
"Who?"
Instead of answering her, he took his phone and started a call. After three rings, sit was answered.
"Yeah?"
"Percy, I'm with Piper and you're on speaker."
"Sounds serious."
"Would Peter's mom be willing to give us some advice even if she haven't met us until now?"
"Sure. She gets home around seven, want to drop by?"
Piper and Jason shared a look, both surprised by the speed with which Percy had agreed. Piper got closer to the phone.
"Percy, is Peter ok with this?"
"Yeah, he's cool. Just said that he knows his mom is the best and will totally help."
"Even if you don't know what we want to talk about?"
"Eh, everyone has their secrets. Are you coming?"
"Yeah."
"Sweet, I'll let mom know and maybe convince her to get pizza. Any preferences? Apart from vegan, I mean."
Piper gifted Jason with a dazzling smile and thankfully turned her attention to the phone to spared him of embarrassment. He could see how her shoulders set, her breaths now strong, the fight back in her expression and knew he was staring in admiration.
"Let the pizza to us."
"Right, both of you are rich. Even better. I have to walk Mrs. O'Leary, later!"
***
Mackenzie had spent the last three days mostly sleeping or crying in her room, despite their best efforts to break the cycle. So it wasn't that surprising she was sleeping locked inside her room when Will came by to be on sitter duty, no questions asked.
"Am I going to meet your mysterious charge?"
Piper pulled her coat, handing Jason his.
"If she leaves her room to eat something, maybe, though I can't be sure. If you see her, just introduced yourself, reassure her you don't know anything about her, but you're here if she wants to talk."
"Copy that!"
Jason clasped his friend's shoulder, nodding in recognition.
"Thanks, Will, for coming and for accepting to be in the dark."
"Eh, that's what friends are for, right? Although I'm surprise you didn't ask Claire."
Piper bit her lip and casted her eyes down. They had debated it and decided against it.
"She seems upset with me and while I don't have the time or the head to work it out now, I also didn't want to ask for a favor with thismood."
"Your choice. Now the sooner you go, the sooner you can come back and maybe she won't even know you left."
***
When they came back after a clarifying talk with Sarah, Will informed them that Mackenzie had woken up an hour after they left, screamed in alarm at seeing him, screamed in anger to being left by them, stormed to the kitchen to eat something and then stormed to the bathroom, although she never got there.
"I cleaned the floor, got her in a shower, a new nightdress and put her to bed. She's resting now and I believe she's reasonably okay. But the little one won't be if this keeps going."
He knows? Is it that obvious?
Will is a camp doctor. If someone was to guess, I suppose he'd be the most likely.
Giving them a look that clearly stated he saw them unfit to look after a pregnant teenager, he crossed his arms and waited for an answer. Piper started explaining where they went, with who they'd spoken with and their next course of action.
"Believe me, we know we're not the right choice. We're bringing the adults into this."
"Good, because that girl needs a serious obstetrician following her."
Jason gave Will a playful smile.
"Aren't you one? What about Chuck?"
Will huffed in annoyance, going to pick up his backpack.
"Nymphs don't have dangerous pregnancies or complicated births; things are much more natural, obviously. Even if I had the free time - which I don't - I'm more of an army doctor. You know, like... breaking your bones while naming them. And I'm serious, get this girl to an obstetrician and fast! I believe she's already finishing her first trimester and things are bound to get complicated."
"We promise."
"Good, then I'm out."
Flashbackover, back to the present
THURSDAY, 26th January
After a lot of grumbling over late night texts, Will had accepted to skip his classes to stay on sitter duty, saying that if this ever got back to his mother, he would throw both of them in front of her to be judged - warning them that she was a lawyer, a mean and very efficient one. Following Sarah's advice, they first seek out the school counselor, explaining Mackenzie's situation without mentioning her name, asking what policies the school had in place fora situation like hers. It took them almost ten minutes to assure the woman that Trish wasn't the one pregnant, that John didn't get anyone pregnant and that the sweet Claire who once in while would stop by to talk about her mother wasn't taken advantage. They spent the whole break pouring over options and possible solutions. The hardest part would be convincing Mackenzie to visit the counselor and talk about it.
"She barely leaves her room. I can't completely blame her; she throws up almost everything she eats and has been growing weaker by the day. We know she needs a doctor. But unless we carry her inconscient body, it's going to be her kicking and screaming body."
The older woman gave them a soft smile.
"This isn't really a problem, you know. If Mohammed will not go to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed. Give me a time and an address and I'll go to your house and talk to her; even accompany her for a quick check-up if I can convince her. I'm a certified psychologist and I've been working with teenagers for almost twelve years. I'm also a mother so I think I might have a better chance at convincing her. Who knows, maybe I can convince Bridget, our nurse, to accompany me; we're both bound to confidentiality. Two birds with one stone."
Jason and Piper wore matching dumbfounded expressions at the simplicity of the solution.
I mean, after she said it, it does sound pretty obvious.
It always does.
After setting an hour to later that afternoon, they left her office, with the counselor's promise to talk with the principal and the secretary about a possible solution and their shoulders so much lighter. Holding hands, Jason was walking Piper to her next class,both with a slip for tardiness, knowing it was for a good cause.
"I can barely believe it could be that simple."
"I told you we needed an adult. Next time, remember I'm always right."
"Oh, please forgive this heathen's faulty memory!"
She playfully hit her hip against him, laughing.
"You're forgiven. And only because you have a heart of gold and will do anything to help someone in need even when is way out of your depth."
She kissed him on the cheek, releasing his hand and walking towards her classroom. Sending him a smile and a wink over her shoulder, she waved and entered her class.
So, your girlfriend was basically saying that you can't resist playing hero.
Since I suspect you'd have done something quite similar, I advise you to be careful with your critics.
A/N: The Latin was like "Calm down. Everything will be okay. Take a deep breath."
Do I remember that Americans aren't as touch-y as Brazilians and Italians? Yes, I do. Am I putting too many hugs on my fic? Maybe I am. But try to convince me to let both Jodi and Mackenzie cry their hearts out alone and I'll DESTROY you. People in today's society are so touch-starved is not even funny. So at least inside my fic, everyone gets a hug.
As someone who saw a psychologist for like, 6 sessions, I can assure you that 3 years later I still have moments where I think "damn, I could REALLY speak with a psychologist about this", so putting the counselor in contact with Mackenzie is not a lazy choice as an author, but a rational decision as someone who knows the positive effects of seeing a professional.
And you see, Jason's chapter is a critic to 80% of high school fanfic (maybe 90%). While it's important to trust your friends, some problems require an adult's perspective/help. While their intentions are pure and admirable, Piper was right, they are only kids who grew up too fast and an adult (Sarah, the counselor, secretary, principal) was necessary. Just think of CHB, where there's only one functioning adult, Chiron (Mr. D doesn't count). And is he ignored over the dozens of teenage campers? No. There's a problem, ask Chiron. Someone new arrived, get Chiron. Let's play a game,Chiron will judge. A new prophecy, where the hell is Chiron. And that's even when he's someone who ENCOURAGES the demigods to be independent and solve the problems among themselves, but not for one second you or they forget he's always present and obviously more experienced. In SoM, when he was kicked out, the campers were almost panicking on "how in the world is the camp supposed to work without a competent adult?". In TLO, Percy expected Chiron to lead the army, even if he was the one to call them. So, fanfic writers, remember that adults EXIST. Yes, even when the majority of our beloved characters are orphans or estranged with their families, there are other adults around them, ok? Neighbors, police officers, janitors, doctors, lawyers, vendors, even the guy walking the dog, the mom breastfeeding in the mall or the old lady sweeping the sidewalk.