Chapter 26: The Past Tends to Bring Some Pain with it

I was woken up with a kiss on Saturday morning, with school and the show I hadn't been able to relax much until last night. Pippa had gotten better so I got to have a little breather before our concert. I opened my eyes once Sammy parted from my lips, and smiled before cuddling up to him.

"For your information, I have fallen for you ever since I met you," she said as we laid there cuddling

"Oh really," I said as a ran my hand down her back, "so you fell for me hard then," I asked as she chuckled

"That I did," she said

"Did you come out before all of this happened," I asked referring to the loss of her parents

"Yeah," she began, "they took it well and told me that they'd support me and whatever girlfriend that I brought home," she paused for a moment. "I just never thought that my first girlfriend would be an understudy for Hamilton."

I chuckled, "I never thought that I'd be an understudy on Broadway, to begin with," I said as she chuckled back. "I'm glad that you had supportive parents when you came out, I wasn't so lucky," I said as I felt her lift her head to look at me

"Really," she began as I nodded, "who didn't support you?"

"My dad's family," I began, "correction, a good portion of my dad's family didn't support me because of religion," I said remembering the cousin that I had who told me that she was nervous about coming out to her family in Toledo

"That must've sucked," she said as I smiled

"Not as much as what some people go through," I said as she arched an eyebrow. "Some people either get kicked out or their parents turn out to be abusive once they come out," I explained as her eyes widened

"Did you tell any of your foster homes," she asked me

"I told the first two and that was it," I began, "with the other three I was too afraid of their reaction to it since they were already abusive."

Sammy nodded but then looked back up at me with a face full of concern, "Are you all right," she asked me raising a hand as I stiffened remembering past dreams

Sammy's P.O.V

"No, stay away from me," Rose exclaimed as I went to push a strand of hair out her face. She pushed away from me subsequently falling off the bed with her face full of fear and a distant look in her eyes.

Hurriedly, I pushed myself up on the bed, "Rose," I exclaimed as I went to the side of the bed to make sure she was okay

"Stay away from me," she began, "I knew that you'd turn to hurt me, who told you to do the first strike? Lin, Renée, or was it the gods who talked to you in private? This was too good to be true," she muttered as I held my hands up

She was standing pointing a dagger in my face, "Rose please," I began, "no one is here to hurt you, please put the dagger away."

The distant look stayed as she stepped closer, "Stop lying," she said with tears in her eyes. "I dreamed this betrayal would come, nothing ever good comes out of this kind of thing," she said as my heart dropped to the pit of my stomach

"Who would you trust," I asked her keeping her calm and occupied as I reached for my phone to call Lin or Renée or Daveed or even Pippa

But I couldn't reach it as I felt a dagger pierce my hand, I didn't want to hurt her but if my life is being threatened, I need to defend myself. "I trust no one," she growled, "you cannot call your reinforcements," she added as I screamed in pain

"Zoë," I began, "I don't have any weapons out to hurt you, I don't know why you're doing this or what you're seeing but please come back," I said as I pried the dagger from my hand. I was trying one last time to bring her back before I used any force

You may need force because I needed force when Leo went through this, Calypso said in my mind

I won't be holding back if she doesn't, I thought back as I got up from the bed

"Don't you dare come near me again," she said as I tried approaching her

Then I had an idea, "Your mother's seeing this Zoë," I began softly, "listen to what she's telling you when I say this; I never want to hurt you. I don't ever want to hurt the ones that I love," I said but her stance didn't falter. The distant look faltered but she still stood there with her swords out in a fighting stance. "Annabeth is trying to help you just as much as anybody in this cast, just as much as I am," I added then suddenly her eyes changed to grey. "Annabeth," I gasped as I realized her mother took over and the fighting stance was relaxed

"I don't know what started this," she began, "Are you okay," she asked me as she took off the bracelets, pens, and ring along with everything she equipped the night before.

I looked at my bloodied hand, "I'm fine but what is she seeing," I asked Annabeth as she handed me the weapons

As I equipped some of them to myself, she answered, "After she talked about some of the abusive homes, she started seeing you angry and ready to attack her. Take her weapons," she instructed and I shook my head, "Why not?"

"Cal just told me that she needed force when Leo was dealing with it," I began, "if I need to fight her I will. This probably won't be the first time this happens," I paused, "I just need some nectar and ambrosia for my hand."

Annabeth nodded as she put the bracelets back on, "That's understandable," she said as she pressed a button on the watch, and out came two things. "Here," she began, "I will keep her at bay as you tend to your hand," she said as I ate a piece of ambrosia and drank some nectar before pouring it on my hand

"Thank you, Annabeth," I said as I grabbed some toilet paper and wrapped my hand with it before I put the vial and cartridge back. I then stood face to face with her as a plan formed, "Return control to her," I said as she nodded and the distant look returned

"I told you not to come near me," Rose said with a glare that frightened me but I stood my ground. She rotated her wrist to slice me but before she could strike me, I ducked her arms, I then spun in a circle kicking my leg out so she'd fall

"I am not here to hurt you," I beg as I caught her by her sports bra, "I hope this shows you that I love you," I said, bringing her up while pinning her arms and kissing her. I felt pain on my back but then I felt her relax before the sound of daggers hit the floor

"Oh no," I heard her say as I hugged her tighter, "please let go of me Sam," she said sadly as I heard her sniff

Painfully, I move my arms from her waist and put them at my sides, "It's okay," I said as she shook her head stepping back from me beginning to remove her weapons

"I hurt you," she began as she threw everything to me safely, "I swore to myself that I wouldn't hurt anyone, and yet I hurt you."

I picked up the weapons that she threw along with the jewelry, "But you weren't yourself," I began as I began to hear her sob.

"I don't know what that was," she cried as she sunk into a corner, I stepped closer to her but she shook her head. "Don't come near me," she began, "I don't want to hurt you again please go away."

I smiled softly as I sat down across from her, "I'm never leaving," I began, "you were having a PTSD attack and I will never leave you for what may happen during it."

"Will you tell the cast," she asked and I nodded, "why?"

"In case this happens at Renée's or somewhere without me nearby to help get you out of it," I explained. "Also, to explain what caused these," I added, gesturing to my back and lifting my hand which I unwrapped when she came back. "I will keep ahold of your weapons but we will help you through this and we don't plan on leaving," I explained as she smiled softly

"You can leave if you want to," she began

"Why would I leave you at your lowest?"

"Because I'm a danger to you when this happens," she said as her eyes shined with tears

"It's not intentional."

"When I was there it was," she shot at me

"This was your first time," I said calmly, "I will not ever leave you for something you can't control right now," I then crawled over and grabbed her hands. "I am not one of those people who'd leave at the first sign of someone hurting me when they didn't mean to. I am not one of those people who would leave when someone is at their lowest. I came out to you because I loved you and I am here to stay with you through everything. I haven't stayed with you through everything that happened just to dump you a day later," I finished. "I am here to stay through whatever else life will throw at you and that's final."

"Thank you," she said enveloping me in a hug to which I winced at, "we need to get that taken care of."

"I'll call Groffsauce, Renée, and Lin," I said as she arched an eyebrow, "Son of Apollo to heal the wounds and see if he can help with the attack. Renée and Lin to inform what happened especially in case it happens when you're home."

She nodded, "Good idea," she said as I grabbed my phone and text the three of them at once

Me: Can you guys please come over quick, I think Rose just had a PTSD attack and used her weapons on me before I calmed her down

Just as soon as I sent that a knock sounded at the door, "Who is it," I asked

"It's Renée, I came here early to wake you two up but it seems that your text woke me up from a nap," she said through the door

"Come in," I said as Rose nodded

Renée came in and gasped, "Sammy are you okay," she asked and I nodded

"It hurts a little bit but I'm okay," I answered as she looked around the room, "Rose is in the corner over there."

Renée rushed over to her adopted daughter who was crying in the corner, "You better not beat yourself up because of this," she said. "You had no way of knowing this would happen and you can't control those attacks."

"That's what Sammy said but I still feel bad," she cried just as Lin came in with Groff

"Sammy," Lin exclaimed as the two rushed to me

"I'm fine," I began, "John, can you do something with PTSD, or is that all Will?"

I was told who the cabin counselors were by Calypso before all of this happened, "I believe I can do some things but Will and my father could do more," he answered. "But you're going to bleed out if I don't take care of you," he said as I shook my head

"I have it taken care of," I answered as I closed my eyes

Don't you dare, Calypso said as I started heating my body up

Already doing it, would you rather me do this or bleed out with the chance of Zoë having another attack with these three on their guard, I asked her as I started feeling my back stinging. I could remove my immunity to fire to cauterize any wounds that I had but with my back, I had to be careful

"Could you guys please focus on Zoë and do not turn around until I tell you to," I asked as they nodded and Renée turned around

"What are you doing," she asked, "you need to go to camp for those wounds."

"Would you like me to go to camp with or without blood soaking in your seats," I asked as I summoned a fireball in my hand and let it burn through the hole from the dagger. "I'm going to need your help to know where the wounds on my back are if you don't mind. I may burn my pajamas off but it's only going to be the torso and not my legs," I said through the pain of my burning hand. Renée nodded as I felt my shirt burn off, I turned around as she stepped forward. "You can put your hand in the wounds, it'll be easier for me to know where it is if I feel the pain," I said as I extinguished the flame in my palm to see a dried hole in my hand. I smiled right before I hissed at the pain at my shoulder blades, both of them horizontal covering the width of my back. I closed my eyes to focus on it, "Okay remove your hands so I don't burn you," I said as I felt the pain ebb away. I almost fell to the floor from the pain on my back once I started the fire but I gritted my teeth as I felt my flesh start to burn. I let it burn for a few minutes before I put out the fire. "Is there anymore bleeding," I asked Renée

"No, you're good," she said, "Just please don't do that with me around again," she added as she dashed to the bathroom

"She doesn't like the smell of burning flesh," Lin explained, tossing a shirt towards me. "Here put this on so John and I can leave the room," he said as I heard Rose sniff.

"You can leave," I began from the bathroom, "I'm out of sight," I began as I held a mirror so I could see the damage on my back. The flesh looked black as Renée closed the door behind her, I heard her talk to Rose before I heard the door close in the bedroom. Suddenly a knock on the door sounded, "You can come in if you're all right with seeing me without a shirt," I said then I heard the door open. "Please don't say that you came here to apologize once more," I said as I looked at the cuts down my back

She shook her head, "I'm here to clean them so you can get your shirt on without any problems," she said as I saw her approach the sink. "If I was trained with my powers more, I'd be able to heal you but I'm not able to right now," she said as I hissed at the sting that came with her dabbing at the wounds. "I'm sorry," she said once more as she froze at the middle, "I didn't know how deep," she said once she continued

"Once again," I began as I watched her continue, "you weren't in control of yourself," I finished as I felt the cloth end on my left

"Hand," she said and I turned around and showed it to her, "how did you know how to do this?"

As she was saying this, she took my hand and ran it over water, "I learned a little bit when I got shot the first time," I began as I kept myself from jerking my hand away. "If you remove your immunity to your element you can still control it but it will take effect just as it would with any other person."

"You were shot before," she asked as I nodded padding my hand dry with a cloth, "where?"

I blushed once I remember that I stood in front of her with no shirt or bra on, "Give me your hand," I said as she slowly lifted it. I took it and placed it in between my breasts. "Remember how I told you that my last boyfriend did something stupid," I asked as I kept her hand there. "I was there when he got shot in point-blank range, the bullet went right through him and into me. It was around the time I was learning about my powers. I was starting to run away when I was shot, I started learning about it when I was startled by my father and I shot a mini fireball into the drain of the shower."

I dropped my hand as hers lingered there, "That boyfriend hurt you too," she asked and I nodded. "He almost killed you," she added as I nodded once more, "how did you get away?"

I smiled as I began to tell her everything, "I will tell you because I did tell you no promises," I said then sighed. "I was already backing up into the alley when my boyfriend was shot in the chest. He and I were the same height but I survived because I was already by the exit when the bullet hit me. I had some knowledge of treating wounds so when I was out of sight and earshot, I dug the bullet out and stopped the bleeding. There's no record of it because my father was a doctor so he stitched it up once I got home. He asked me how I cauterized it and I lied telling him that I used a burning piece of wood to stop the bleeding."

By this point I was in tears as Rose's hand caressed my cheek, "That's why you didn't run from me," she said and I nodded

"You weren't doing anything stupid," I began, "I had some family a while back who had PTSD. One of whom had it because of parental abuse, he took out a knife on me when I went to help in the kitchen. My parents came in so they could help me but I didn't do most of it, he only calmed down when his girlfriend pinned his arms. Calypso said that I may need to use force to calm you down so that's why I did what I did," I explained as she nodded. "I was told that with PTSD you aren't there you're in your own world. I recognized the distant look you had in your eyes. I just didn't think you'd use your weapons on me in that state. You didn't have them at that time so I wasn't expecting it, I don't blame you for any part of it and I will not leave you."

Tears welled up in her eyes, "Thank you," she cried as she hugged me, her arms wrapping around my waist instead of my shoulders. "Until this is fixed you will be keeping the weapons, I don't want to hurt anybody," she added

"You're at least keeping one weapon on you in case something happened," I said into her chest. "I don't want you risking your life just to protect us from something you can't control," I added as once I moved my face to look at us in the mirror

"I will keep a dagger under my shirt during classes and one on my thigh during the musical when I play Eliza," she said

"What about the ensemble," I asked

"I can wear the ring," she said as I nodded, "while you wear the rest," she added as I hugged her and she turned her head to look in the mirror as I did. "Anyway," she said with a sigh, "you need to get this on so we can get to camp to get you fixed up."

I blushed, I had forgotten I was talking to my girlfriend of one day without a shirt on, "Yeah," I said. "Could you help me please, I don't think I can lift my arms over my head without keeping my back from bleeding again."

Rose nodded as I noticed a blush on her cheeks as well, "Yeah," she began, "I'll help."

She held the shirt where my hands were, slowly I drew my hands back and thread them through the sleeves. I helped her push the shirt up to my shoulders before I ducked my head through the hold. I then let her pull it down my waist and smiled as it fell after it went over my shoulders

"One of your shirts," I asked as she nodded, "why?"

"It'll be easier to take off and it won't cling to your back so much," she said as I looked at the shirt that felt like a tent on me. "If you're up to it and the Apollo kids allow it you can come with me to see Rachel," she added as I nodded

"I would appreciate it," I said remembering the four-year-old who was smart for her age. "Let's get this taken care of first," I said as she nodded

"Agreed," she said, "let me get a shirt first," she added as I nodded moving to the side for her to go. "I need something first," she said and I arched an eyebrow, "you wake me up with one and you brought me back with one so I should deserve one."

I smiled, "That you do," I said as she leaned down to kiss me, I savored in the moment. When she was having the attack, I had an image of something I forgot to mention

There were two people that I had to deal with that had PTSD, one of them was my distant cousin who killed himself later on after he found out his girlfriend was cheating on him.

The other was my last boyfriend, he was more violent but only used fists while I still fought it with him. At some point I had to use my powers to bring him back to reality, I used lies to cover the burns saying that he either fell into the fire or that he put his hand on the stovetop. The last time that had happened I had told him that a firework went off near his hand since we passed by a fireworks shop that had a testing station. He told me that we'd talk about it later but later on he died as I saw myself running with a bullet embedded in my chest. I forced a smile as I saw Rose grab a t-shirt and jacket, it was still a little cold but not cold enough for a winter coat and boots. I walked up to her as she grabbed another jacket

"Here," she said handing it to me, "in case your back starts bleeding while we're outside I don't want you to bleed over Renée's seats."

I chuckled, "You know Leo may give you hell about this, right?"

"That's what I'm afraid of," she said as I smiled

"Just to ask," I began, "what did my grandfather bless you with?"

She sighed, "Are you asking in case a kiss doesn't bring me back," she asked me

"Yeah, that and Cal is yelling at me for putting my life on the line with that," I explained as she nodded

"Your grandfather blessed me with fire immunity, the ability to control fires, and also to start a small fire," she answered as I nodded. "Would you have burned me if any sort of affection didn't work?"

I shrugged, then winced once pain came as I held onto the jacket, "If it came to that," I said then lifted the jacket, "a little help please?"

She chuckled as she took the jacket and I turned around, I bent at my knees before sliding it on. "My payback will be helping you get better," she said as I chuckled

"You don't get payback for this," I began, "as I said before you didn't intend to hurt me and before that son of Apollo drags me into the infirmary, I will tell Leo that you didn't mean to do that so he doesn't try to attack you for something that you couldn't control."

Rose chuckled as I pulled at the sleeves of the jackets, "Okay," she said, "I think you have successfully beaten in the fact that it was an accident that I couldn't control. I will still feel bad for hurting you though," she finished as I approached the door

"And every time you apologize, I will remind you so you should stop apologizing," I said as she blushed. "Now let's go before Groffsauce kicks the door down to heal me," I said as she chuckled, grabbing our phones and sliding on the ring that I left on the bed purposely. "Everyone would have the time to dodge an arrow," I began, "that is the least dangerous weapon for you right now."

She nodded, "Good idea," she began as I stepped out of the room and started heading downstairs. "How have you not passed out from any pain," she asked as I chuckled

"I don't know," I said as I made it to the door where Renée was standing with John. "Hey guys," I said with a smile, "We're ready to go," I added

"Where's the blood," John asked and I looked at him

"I found out about my power with fire before I met all of you," I began, "I found out that I'm able to remove my immunity to cauterize a wound."

"You did that to yourself," he asked and I nodded, "that's smart," he added and I chuckled

"And that's why I puked," Renée added nonchalantly, "let's go I already gave Percy and Leo a heads up on what happened."

I glanced over to see Rose pale, I then looked at the two adults, "If you wouldn't mind before you drag me into the infirmary, I would like to explain to Leo what happened so he doesn't try to kill her. She may have immunity from flames but not from a hammer or weapons," I explained and they both nodded before we stepped outside

"You're both going into the infirmary," John began, "the current counselor would like to check out Rose's PTSD since he is at the same healing level as Will."

I nodded as Renée started driving, I held onto Rose's hand to keep her grounded. "Are you okay with doing this," she asked as I looked at the hand that I was holding it with

"Yes," I replied, "your mother helped me with it," I added as she arched an eyebrow. "She gave me the nectar and ambrosia in your watch so it would close up some and stop gushing," I explained and she nodded

"You are so smart," she said with a soft smile as I smiled back, "you said something before I had the attack, what was it?"

I thought for a minute, "I only asked if you were all right," I began, "you stiffened as I was raising my hand to brush a strand of hair out of your face. I asked that and then you had that distant look in your eyes," I explained and she nodded

"What did you say during it," she asked as I chuckled, "Annabeth's trying to calm me down so she's not saying anything."

I smiled, "I was trying to get you out of it by talking to you," I began, "at first I said your name because it caught me by surprise. You pushed yourself away from me and fell off the bed," I sighed, "when I went to see if you were okay you had a dagger pointed at my face. You started asking who asked me to make a move on me, I tried to reach for my phone to call someone but then you threw your dagger piercing my hand saying that you trusted no one."

Rose let out a low whistle, "What else happened," she asked as I retraced the steps

"After I took the dagger out of my hand, I tried to tell you that I didn't have any weapons to hurt you," I sighed. "I told you that I'd never want to hurt you and when I was saying that is when Calypso told me that I may need to use force. I got up from the bed and you had your swords out telling me not to come any closer. I then started calling out Annabeth because I had a plan going," I paused. "Once she took control, she started taking all of your weapons off but I stopped her when I said that I had a plan. She kept you at bay while I took some nectar and ambrosia for my hand and wrapped it. I then stood right in front of you and asked her to return control to you. Once the distant look was back in your eyes you growled at me saying that you told me not to come closer. At this point my body was almost touching yours, you got out your daggers and went to strike me. But before you attacked, I ducked underneath your arms and kicked your feet out from underneath you. I caught you by your sports bra," I sighed as it replayed in my head. "I told you once more that I wasn't there to hurt you, I helped you up saying that I hope that what I was going to do would show that I loved you before I pinned your arms and kissed you. Before you came back, I felt you sliced my back with the daggers before you dropped them."

There was a moment of silence in the car before it was broken by one of the adults, "That was very brave of you Samantha," John said from the passenger seat. "I don't think I would've done that," he added as I blushed

"I can see why your mother may be yelling at you though," Renée added from the steering wheel. "You did put yourself in danger," she finished, "for all, we know PTSD Rose could've killed you. What would you have done if she didn't come back," she asked

I sighed, "I almost brought up my daggers when she cut my back," I began, "I imagine she would've been too surprised by the sudden pain that she'd hesitate. I would then push her away while burning one of her arms, or at least trying to seeing as my grandfather blessed her with flame immunity if I somehow went rogue."

"Why in the world would you go rogue," Renée asked as both John's and Rose's face were full of shock and bewilderment. "You are the least expected person to go rouge next to Pippa," she added as I chuckled

"My last boyfriend was part of a gang," I began, "he was the most powerful because he didn't care what happened to others. There were times where I had to fight to stay alive or keep my virginity," I paused imagining the bruises and broken bones that my father had to mend. "My father was a doctor for the gang until my boyfriend was shot and killed right in front of my eyes. The bullet went through his chest and into mine as we were the same height," I sighed. "It was around that time I learned how to remove my immunity and cauterize my wounds. After I removed the bullet and did that, I went home so my father could patch it up," a tear rolled down my cheek. "After my boyfriend was pronounced dead by the gang, we attempted to cut ties with them and we moved away with me switching schools. I had only been at that school for a year before Rose came," I sighed as I felt a light squeeze in my hand. "I barely trusted people until I met her after her Ham4Ham performance. I could see that she's been through a lot but I couldn't figure what, especially since she jumped six feet from her skin when I first talked to her. I realized that she was also trying to trust others and I saw that trust grow when she asked me to visit her after she woke up the second time. After that day I waited to talk to her but she hadn't said anything so I started fearing that something happened to her. That is until I saw her at school standing up to one of our bullies," I sighed as I looked up at her. "For a brief minute I thought that you were part of a gang the way that you turned around and grabbed Brittany by the shirt but that went away when I heard you running into your old choir director."

Rose blushed then chuckled then nodded, "I can see why Hephaestus wanted to bless me with that immunity," she said. "I guess that we have to watch out for each other," she added with a lopsided grin

I chuckled, "That we do," I began, "but first let me keep my father from attacking you with a hammer or something since you hurt me."

As I was finishing this we were pulling up to the camp, "You three go into camp I'll go park this," Renée said as Rose, John and I got out of the car.

"This is camp," I asked as Rose and John chuckled

"Yes, it is," she said as she grabbed my hand once more, "come on let's get you taken care of," she added as she dragged me to a pine tree with a dragon underneath it

That is Peleus, he protects the Golden Fleece, my mother explained as Rose and I climbed the hill coming closer to the dragon and the tree which I noticed held a fleece on its lowest branch

Soon I felt something go through me as we passed the dragon and the tree, "What was that feeling," I asked aloud this time

"We just passed through the borders," Rose began as she waved to someone, "where's Leo and Dad?"

"They told me to tell you two to meet them at the infirmary," a blonde-haired grey-eyed boy said. "You must be Sammy," he said, "the name's Malcolm," he added sticking his hand out, "Welcome to Camp Half-Blood."

I forced a smile as I glanced at Rose who winked, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Malcolm," I began. "You look a lot like Annabeth," I said referring to the mist-form from the night before

"That's because I'm her half-brother," he said nonchalantly, "now you two should get to the infirmary before Leo burns it down in either anger or anticipation."

My eyes widened as I paled for a minute before dragging Rose to the infirmary, "I should keep my father from killing you before a child of Apollo sits me in a bed and heals me," I said as Rose chuckled

Once we made it, I saw Leo and Percy, they looked just as worried as Renée, John, and Lin did. "Please don't say this is a prank to get you to come here," Percy said as he looked at me before he looked at my hand. "Sorry," he began sheepishly, "get into the infirmary, Samantha."

"Hang on Perce," I began as I climbed the steps, "don't murder her please," I told Leo

"But she hurt you," he grumbled as Calypso told me about his PTSD attacks

"You hurt mom when you had those attacks," I said as he paled, "that's what she had and she already feels guilty about it."

His lips thinned into a line, "Fine," he said, "how did you get her out of it?"

I smiled and told him, "After she cut me, she was herself," I said finishing it, "she pushed me away and started taking her weapons off. She didn't want me within six feet of her because she felt so bad. So please take it easy on her while I'm getting healed," I finished as he nodded

"You got it Little Flame," he said, "you have to tell me how you're not bleeding when you get out."

"It's simple," I began as I walked in, "I let the flames burn me, and the dad who raised me was a doctor."

I didn't see his reaction because then an Apollo kid took my hand and pulled me in putting me in a bed right next to a sleeping woman that had Rose's blonde hair and athletic body.

Rose's/Zoë's P.O.V

I felt guilty

No matter what she told me I was guilty as someone could be

I felt like Percy and Leo were there to arrest me for hurting someone as precious as her. They stared at me down after Sammy was pulled into the infirmary, I felt as if I was a war criminal and the two were discussing what to do with me.

"Hey guys," I said shyly once they turned back around from their discussion

���Hey Zoë," Leo began as he approached me, "come with us," he added and I nodded following the two probably to my demise.

For Hades' sake stop thinking like that, Annabeth said in my head, Both Leo and Percy went through this. You will not die especially if Sammy told her father all of what happened. The most that'll happen is that you'll be either put through demigod therapy or they're going to try and suppress those memories.

I didn't know that you could suppress memories here, I thought back to her, I would rather not have those memories but then would come to the questions of me trying to remember a big part of my life.

That's why we don't do it that often, she replied as Percy and Leo stopped at the beach a ways away from the camp

"Okay," Percy began, "what were you seeing?"

Trust them, Annabeth said as I bit my lip in nervousness

"I was seeing visions of her trying to hurt me," I began, "I was seeing her spout insults and coming closer with a dagger or something sharp. She had an angry face and was calling me things like I'm useless as she tried to hit me. When I was coming back the only thing I heard was her saying 'I hope this shows you that I love you' before she kissed me. I couldn't stop myself from cutting her back only after that was I able to drop the daggers. After I did that, I asked her to let go of me then I started taking all of my weapons off and tossing them at her feet. I feel terrible for doing it," I finished as the emotions took over once more

"Leo," Percy said, "would you step back I don't think you wanna get wet," he added as my knees buckled and I found myself kneeling in the sand, crying. "Hey," I heard Percy say as I cried into my hands, "there's no reason for you to be crying like this. I had this happen too, I turned on Annabeth during an attack after the war with Gaea. I thought she had turned on me and was trying to kill me," he paused. "I almost killed her with blood-bending," he added sorrowfully

"You did," I said finally looking up at him

"Yep," he said with a nod, "after I realized what I did I shut myself in the cabin for days not coming near anyone. I didn't come out until both Poseidon and Amphitrite came and talked some sense into me."

I chuckled as I pictured the two trying to talk him out of his cabin, "You're not the only one," Leo's voice said from nowhere. "I burned Cal one time and kept myself in Bunker 9 until Annabeth found me judo flipped some sense into me."

They aren't telling you to seclude yourself, if you do that then I'm taking control and forcing you out of your room, Annabeth said and I paled

"Annabeth told you not to follow our paths didn't she," Percy asked and I nodded. "She's right," he began with a sigh, "What kept me from flooding the whole camp was fighting other people or putting my mind on something. I even learned some new things just to take my mind off of the past. Now," Percy paused, "when I think about it, I don't go into that zone."

After Percy finished, I looked at Leo who nodded, "You're not mad at me," I asked him dumbfoundedly

My girlfriend's father nodded, "Why would I be mad at you for something that you couldn't control," he asked letting the question hang. "No, I'm not," he finally said after a minute, "when I had those attacks, I burned Calypso several times. I joined Percy in recovering after he healed her with his water powers, it will take time and you will hurt people but that should not mean you walk around weaponless," he said just as I saw the Stolls running up

"Here you go Valdez," Conner said handing Leo something

"You know your daughter is going to be irritated to find all of her weapons off of her when she wakes up, right," Travis asked as Percy chuckled

"You took all of her weapons off," Leo exclaimed as Conner shot a glare at his brother

"No," Conner said, correcting his brother as I stood, "we only collected the jewelry and the ones that were on the bedside table. We didn't want to go underneath the leggings or else I'm sure a Jackson would be after our blood."

I chuckled, "I don't think I'd be the only one after your blood," I said with a smile as I wiped the tears off

The twins paled, "Percy also asked us to get this from Annabeth's bedside table," Travis said as he dug into his bag. "Forewarning, she may take control of you to judo flip him for this," he said taking out a New York Yankees baseball cap

"I won't judo flip him but he should've told me this plan last night," Annabeth said through my lips as her eyes darted in a glare towards Percy

"Sorry Annabeth," he began, "I didn't know whether or not you could read each other's mind in there," he finished sheepishly

"I am glad that you thought of this," Annabeth said as she held onto the loop for the hat. "Great idea Seaweed Brain," she added before hugging him and returning control to me

"Why is Zoë never angry when she does that," Leo said as I chuckled

"Because at camp she has twenty-four-seven permission and most of the time when she asks for permission outside of camp it's a mental conversation," I answered

I felt the chuckle in Percy's chest, "That explains a lot," he said as he removed his arms from my waist. "Now let's get to practicing your powers," he added

Leo's eyes widened as the Stolls walked away, "I'm gonna head out," he said before running off with the Stolls

I chuckled with Percy, "So power training," I asked arching an eyebrow

Percy smiled as I looked up at him, "Well you gotta know how to heal somebody if that happens again," he said as I smiled. "I also have to show you how to fight properly," he added as I giggled. "I'm pretty sure Annabeth wouldn't mind teaching you how to use that hat either," he finally finished indicating the hat that was hanging from my wrist.

I smirked, "I have an idea," I said as I slid it on and looked down, I was invisible. I smirked and stepped away from Percy.

I went by the line of the woods and stood there as I moved the water, "Zoë," Percy called as the water was towering over him. "Where did you go," he asked as I smirked

Step back and then say something before dropping the wave on him, Annabeth informed as I looked behind me and stepped over a branch

"Nowhere," I said as I dropped the wave on him

Percy spluttered, "What the Hades," he exclaimed as he dried off, "how did I get wet?"

Nice job removing his water-proofing, Annabeth said with a chuckle, Give him hell for me

"I may be able to explain that father mine," I said with a smirk as I dashed toward him. I dodged the strike he made with his sword, "Nice try," I said as I sprayed him with water once more

"This isn't fair," Percy exclaimed as he tried to calmly look for me

Run, Annabeth said as the waves rose over my head

The pull in my gut told me that I was slowing the growth of the wave down, "That's what you get for dueling your daughter after giving her, her mother's hat," I began as I ran behind a bush. "Also, payback for doing this to mom," I added as he turned around to the wave that stopped growing right at his height. I let the water crash into him and made my move as he spluttered. I swiped my leg at his foot but he somehow jumped over it and reached behind him to grab,

"What," Percy exclaimed, scrunching his brow in confusion as he grabbed at the air. "I could've sworn you were there," he added as he looked over his shoulder

This time I knocked him off his feet and kneeled on his chest as he dropped Riptide once again. With my free hand I took off the hat, "Nice try Dad," I said with a smirk as I held the dagger to his throat

Suddenly I heard the sound of a fire starting ahead of us, "Leo," Percy began as I ducked closer to Percy once a fireball was thrown at me

"That's not Leo," I began, "go get him, I'll take care of her," I finished sliding off of him

The look on her face did not fit her in anyway, "Don't run, you're the father of the one who hurt me," she growled as my heart broke

"Samantha," I exclaimed and her head snapped in my direction, "You don't want him, you want me."

The look on her face was one with rage but it was also combined with a distant look as if she wasn't looking at me. "You promised me that you wouldn't do anything stupid that would get me killed. You promised me that you wouldn't hurt me even if that was one of the options that you had," she said with a growl as a fireball formed in her hand. "You almost killed me with your daggers, how can I trust you with my life," she added as she threw the fireball in my direction

I felt the waves come up to my ankles, I willed a wall of water to rise in front of me and extinguish the fireball. "I wasn't with it Sams," I began as I walked toward her

"Not a step closer," she said with a growl as she threw another fireball

I took that moment to put on the Yankees cap, I dove to the side as the fire heated up my ankle burning my leggings. I extinguished the flame as it started catching onto the rest of the fabric before I walked closer to Sammy. "You know that I didn't mean to hurt you," I began as her face full of fury looked around the beach. I got rid of the dagger as I took her in, she still had her leggings on but her chest was wrapped in a bandage along with her hand. "I know what zone you're in," I began, "you felt life-threatening pain just as you did that night. You survived again and this time you're out to kill the person who hurt you is that right?"

"How did you figure," Sammy said with a growl that broke my heart as I crept behind her

"Because I remember your forgiveness whenever I tried to get you away from me so I didn't hurt you again," I said before I wrapped my arms around her small figure. I then felt the flames licking at my body as a sharp pain came from my arm, "I know that you risked your life to get me out of that zone and you did that because you loved me. I keep promises, you and I both know that," I said as I nuzzled my head into the crook between her shoulder and neck which was on fire. I had turned the cap so I wore it backwards so it wouldn't catch on fire. "I love you," I said as I worked on suppressing her flames

I felt her relax just as footsteps came up, "Where's Zoë," Percy asked just as Leo ran up to Sammy who was resting her head on my arm.

"I have my arms around her," I began, "I would take the hat off but um," I blushed a little. "I may be fire-proof thanks to Hephaestus but my clothes aren't," I added just as Sammy turned around and buried herself into my invisible body

"At least you're invisible," she muttered as she put her arms around my waist. "Are you bleeding," she asked in shock as the two men started walking away

"Yes, but it's a small price to pay to bring you back," I said as she buried her face into my chest

"Yeah but you're not dealing with this embarrassment," she said as I chuckled and removed the hat.

"Not anymore," I said looking at her, she moved her head and looked at me

"Why do you do this to yourself," she asked me as I chuckled

"You forget that you're talking to a girl who was raped in a New York alley by one of her foster brothers and a thirty-year-old man," I said as she chuckled. "It is a little embarrassing but I sort of got used to it," I added. "One thing's for sure not enough for a whole camp of kids," I finished as the blush rose to my cheeks. "At least you're not embarrassed alone," I added once more as I looked at the dagger wound

"True," she mumbled into my chest as I felt her cheeks heat up, "where did my dagger go?"

"It's still in my arm," I grumbled as I pulled it out with a grunt of pain, "here," I began as I approached the water so we sat behind a rock. I set the hat next to me and dipped my arm in the water. I felt my arm heal with the water as I smirked. "Give me your hand," I said as I remembered something

She did and I unwrapped it and put it in the water with mine, she hissed as I watched the gap in her hand close leaving a scar. "You learn quickly," she said as I chuckled

I shrugged as I nodded toward her chest, "You want me to heal that," I asked as she looked down. Her bandages had burned off along with her underwear and leggings

"Yes please," she said as a blush rose to her cheeks once more, "I wish this kind of thing were on better terms."

I chuckled blushing, "You and me both," I began, "now lay on your side with your back facing me."

She did so as my heart broke at the gashes on her back as I willed the water to come with my hand. "You are most definitely your mother's daughter," she said as I chuckled once more before she hissed as the gashes closed on her back leaving two more scars

"That I am," I said with a smirk as she sat up, "I'm not ready to go out there yet," I said with a chuckle

"I'm fine with just laying here until someone comes to get us," she said cuddling closer to me. "Preferably one of the Hunters of Artemis," she added as I chuckled

Either she read the mind of the Fates or she was just lucky because Thalia Grace came up with some clothes from the store. She gave them to us and dragged us to the infirmary chastising me for using that much of my power

"Mom says you're sounding like Will," I said with a groan as Sammy chuckled while the daughter of Zeus took us to the infirmary

"Someone's gotta be Will when he's not here," she said dragging us by our arms

We were wearing Camp Half-Blood t-shirts with shorts; the shorts were given to her by the Aphrodite kids so they were pretty short. Soon we found ourselves standing in front of the Apollo cabin counselor who was chastising us for the same thing Thalia did not too long ago. After the Apollo kids were done checking on us, they sent us outside so we could decide which cabins to stay in. I could choose between Athena or Poseidon while Sammy had to choose Hephaestus since there wasn't one representing Calypso. We sat next to each other at Poseidon's table as the Aphrodite kids gawked at us. Some people heard how we could sing so the Apollo children forced us to sing a song together. I forgot what the song was but her voice was so beautiful I realized that this was the first time I heard her sing before without it being for fun. After the camp-fire, I walked her to the Hephaestus cabin before falling into Annabeth's bed and falling asleep.