Nico found himself vaguely aware of Dakota lifting him up. He was sitting on something or another, and when he flopped forward limply, he found that something so be warm and furry. Like a shaggy pillow. Nico could have stayed on that shaggy pillow for years. So comfortable. Comfy pillow. Comfy shaggy pillow. Shaggy pillow. Pillow.

But no. After several minutes riding on the shaggy pillow (which, apparently, moved) Nico got dragged off.

"Rude," he murmured.

He heard someone chuckle. Then a female voice said, "You'll thank me later. For now, try to lay still, okay?"

Nico shook his head, but really he just decided that being still was easier. So he chose to remain limp. The girl, more than likely the one who'd spoken earlier, grunted as she picked Nico up and continued to struggle under his weight.

How peculiar, he thought. I don't even weigh that much.

The grunting girl kept carrying him. For just a minute, Nico felt certain that the girl was climbing stairs. Bump. Bump. Bump.

Hey, wait… that voice… it's… familiar. Nico knit his eyebrows as he tried to figure out who that voice belonged to. And then, Reyna! Reyna must have carried you here, which makes Skippy the comfy, shaggy pillow! Nico felt quite pleased with himself for having solved the puzzle.

Somewhere close by, a door creaked open, but Nico was by far and away too lost in thought to process the information. He was laid down on a table. "Cold," he murmured.

"Sorry 'bout that." Gwen's voice.

A sigh. Then, "Just put him under, we should seriously hurry this." Octavian, and he sounded… displeased.

"Typical." Nico thought aloud. Gwen laughed and Octavian huffed.

There came small sting in Nico's right arm before Gwen said softly, "Okay, Nico, time to go to sleep for awhile."

And as the world faded out the rest of the way, Nico felt himself smile a little. Maybe when you wake up the pain will be gone. For now… sleepy… time…

Waking up was slow and suckish. Nico felt like throwing up again, but at least the pain was world felt hazy. A song played, but Nico couldn't be sure whether it came from the world around him or just his head. He knew the song… some alternative punk stuff, but he wasn't yet awake enough to place the artist, much less what song exactly. It stayed in with him, though, power cords and all.

He blinked his eyes open from time to time. It shouldn't really count as "blinking," because Nico slowly lifted his eyelids, stared for several seconds at the blurred things around him, and closed his eyes again, slow all the while.

After what seemed like years of this action, some jerk broke the calm silence, "Ya know, if you ate regularly and kept yourself healthy, this wouldn't be as craptastic of a wake up for you. Is what it is, though, so get up and talk to us already! It's not the struggle you keep lyin' there thinkin' it is, so open your eyes, Nico!" Gwen attacked him. Not just with words, she literally started shaking him.

Violent teen. What does she think she's doing?

Just shake her off! She can't beat you!

You're down for the count, idiot. We need a different plan.

Okay… just go into fetal position. Be the egg, like that trampoline game. Nothing can break you.

Nothing?

No, nothing. Not a single thing.

Gwen can be pretty scary… but let's just stick with this plan for now.

Nico curled up into an egg. An unbreakable egg. Gwen could try all she wanted, but Nico had played this game with mortal children before, and he always won. Always. (Except for that one time when his knee hit his nose and blood got everywhere and-)

Always, he reminded himself again. That time doesn't count.

Yeah it does.

No!

Yeah. You just don't want to admit it.

Whatever.

"We have your jacket. And sword. And ring. Basically, we have all of your belongings right now. So, please stop, unless you don't want your things back. If that's your plan, go right on ahead being uncooperative." That was Octavian-no doubt about it. Only he could be that cold.

But Nico did want he own stuff back, so he forfeited. He blinked a few times, letting his eyes adjust before slowing sitting up. The bed he lay in was soft, comfortable. Almost… cozy. Only so much so, though, with Gwen and Octavian standing over him, threatening in their own special ways.

He shuddered a little. Yikes. Hopefully he'd escape soon-with his things.

Looking around, Nico easily recognized where he was. He knew the room from… previous visits. It was a small overnight clinic room within New Rome. The clinic had been established in order to treat non-legionnaires, and most of their patients lived within the city. According to Jason, Gwen had been working there from before she could talk. Also from Jason, Nico learned that all Apollo kids (and legacies) spent time training in the medical field because they had the natural affinity for it, which explained why Octavian was still there. Another scary thought-Octavian helping with Nico's surgery.

Gods, I'm surprised you aren't dead, Nico panicked internally.

Yeah, no kidding. That was a close one, huh?

Note: offerings to everyone immortal for surviving.

Gwen suddenly interrupted his thinking with a you-just-woke-up-from-surgery speech. They all sounded just the same, "Okay! You are going to be totally fine, but you will need some rest time." Well, it was longer, and included something about how to eat, and rest, and what to do, and what not to do, but Nico pretty much tuned all that out She said all this no matter what the affliction, if someone had a bad cold and took a nap from sickness, or had a shot and passed from fear of needles she would still give that benediction.

Octavian rolled his eyes. He'd undoubtedly heard the same bit a million times before. Nico almost felt sorry for him, but every medic probably heard that line each day (or night; what did Nico know about the shifts for New Rome's little clinic? Absolutely nothing, except what he currently found himself subjected to.) The augur stood, stretched, nodded, and left.

Gwen huffed as he closed the door. "Normally he'll at least say 'good-bye', even if a bit pretentiously."

"Well," Nico shrugged, "Must be an off day for him."

"Yeah… Oh! How do ya feel, Nico? Be honest. The machine's takin' your pulse, so don't act all macho and lie. It'll be super obvious."

Nico blinked. "Why would I want to lie? It'd be rather counterproductive."

She heaved a long sigh before answering, "Some people are crazy, my little ambassador." She shook her head and smiled at him. "So?"

"Awake, I guess. I don't feel any pain."

"That's right; the painkillers. I guess ya can't tell me anything accurate so long as those are still in your system. Oh well. That was useless." She laughed a little and ruffled his hair. "Well, I'll leave ya to it. Sleep well." She waved as she walked out the door and shut it behind her. The once-still ceiling fan shook slightly, and everything vibrated for a beat. Then, Nico was alone in the clinic room. He watched the door for five minutes until he settled into his solitude. So he opted to lay back against the pillows and the cozy bed and rest awhile. The sleep would do him well.

He dreamed pleasant dreams of he and his new family and friends within the legion. Not many did, but those who cared about him truly cared, and he found comfort enough in that fact. And so, Nico slept happily.

a/n: So yeah. That's a bit old from me, probably just after MoA was released. I did proofread it, though. Well, as always, reviews are much appreciated. I did post chapter 7 of Doctor and di Angelo, so head on over and check out that or my other fics if you want. Thanks for reading! :)