Hey guys! Sorry about the hiatus, I just was super busy. Well, thanks for all of the kind reviews. Get ready for some Solangelo drama

Chapter 4

Will grumbled as he sliced gauze into precise strips. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. Thinking you had a chance."

"What?" Kayla asked, popping her head in. "You seem distracted." She walked in and sat herself down. "Is something wrong?"

"Can I tell you something?" Will asked, face open and innocent.

"I'm your sister, Will," Kayla reassured. "You can tell me anything."

"So, I like this guy-"

"Ah! Who?!" Will's sister shrieked excitedly.

"Keep quiet!" Will bit his lip. "Do you think I have a chance with Nico?"

Kayla had a sharp intake of breath. Little did Will know, she had already gone to the Aphrodite cabin and talked to Piper about Nico and Will. Apparently Nico liked Will. And if Will liked Nico… "I don't know, Will. I guess you'll have to ask him out or something."

"Do you know something?" Will's eyebrows furrowed.

"No, but maybe you should give it a shot." Kayla turned and walked away before giving anything away. Piper had said to let them get together in their own way.

Will grasped the handful of bandages and dumped it on the medical cart. It was time for Nico's 3:00 check-up. He strolled down the hallway quietly, the only sound the click of the wheels on the tiled floor. "Hey Sunshine!" Will exclaimed, bursting through the door into the sunny room. Nico's back was turned to the door for a split second, and then Death Boy turned around.

"Ahhhhhhh!" Nico yelled. "Have you heard of knocking?" Nico had just pulled on his black, skin-tight jeans, and held his plain black tee shirt in his left hand.

"It's your check-up time," Will grinned. Nico moved, lithe as a panther, lean muscles rippling, and pressed Will against the wall.

"Knock next time," Nico snarled. Will was then let go, and dusted his shirt off, poising a pen over the clipboard while Nico shrugged on his shirt.

"Hm, irrational anger or mood swings. Might require another day in the infirmary." Will looked sternly at the boy sitting sullenly on the edge of the bed. The medic silently approached his patient, going through the motions of checking blood pressure and temperature, along with changing the bandages. Will then disappointedly grasped the cold handles of the cart, freezing at the sound of Nico's voice.

"Will?" Nico asked.

"What?" Will answered, tone at sub-zero.

"I'm sorry." Nico looked down. "I shouldn't have been like that."

"No, you shouldn't have," Will responded, backing out of the room.

"Wait!" Nico ran into the hallway. "Will, I apologize. I- it wasn't right of me."

"You know what I wonder, Nico." Will's face hardened as he stared at the son of Hades. "I wonder why. I have tried to be friendly to you- tried to be kind, but whenever I get closer, you push me away. Why do you push away everyone that cares about you, gods-damn-it?"

"Because the last time I allowed myself to care- Bianca," Nico choked, eyes welling up. His eyes hardened. "No. Why do you care so much, huh? Why should I have to answer to you? Nobody wants a son of Hades here." Nico's almost-black eyes were cold and unyielding, damning Will for his mistake, before slamming the door of the hospital room. Kayla and Austin stared at Will with shocked faces. Will sighed, and went to check on his other patients.

"No," Nico thought, back against the door. "Don't cry, no. You are weak, Nico Di Angelo. A coward. What would Bianca think of you now?" Angry tears rolled down Nico's cheeks, as he got up, and sat on the side of the bed. "It doesn't matter. Bianca is dead. She will never come back, because there are no miracles, heroes aren't real, and life isn't a fairytale." Nico sat for about ten minutes before hearing a soft knock on the door. " Come in," he said softly. Will Solace walked in and shut the door behind him.

"Look, Nico, I'm sorry that I did that. It's just been a long couple of days and my temper got the better of me." Will looked down, shame present in every fiber of his being.

"Why do you care?" Nico retorted.

"This is my list," Will said. Names were scrawled across it. "This is a list I carry everywhere- it's a list of all the people-" A pained expression washed over the son of Apollo's face.

"Go on," Nico urged in a quiet voice.

"All the people I couldn't save," Will finished. "And I don't want you to be on that list, Nico. I'm sorry, that probably sounded ridiculous. I know you've lost a lot, and-"

"Will Solace," Nico interrupted. " Not everyone can be saved, and-" Nico paused. "It's a big burden to carry. But don't ever think that you could've changed things, because I know that you tried with the best of your abilities."

Will's eyes shone. "Thanks…"

"And you have saved me. I will never not thank you for that." Nico looked down at their hands, which had become intertwined during the conversation. He extracted his hands from Will's grasp, and kneeled on the bed behind him. Nico wrapped his arms around his Solace, and rested his chin on the older boy's shoulder. "Thanks," Nico whispered into Will's ear.

Every nerve sang and jolted when Nico had embraced him, a cool relief against his warmth. "Hey, Nico?" Will started; he was ready to ask the question. "Would you-"

"Hey Will!" Austin shouted, kicking open the door. "Can you go pick up some-" His eyes went wide. "Oh, okay, am I disturbing anything?" Nico's face went red as he quickly sat against the headboard, clasping his hands together. Will straightened up, cheeks warming.

"What do you need?"

"Pick up some ambrosia from the big house." Austin winked and wiggled his eyebrows before briskly striding down the hallway.

"See you later, Sunshine." Will smirked and left.

"Oh my gods, he- we- we just cuddled and I- I am in hot water." But Nico was elated, even though he would never admit it. It was 3:30. Four and a half hours until Nico could leave.

Although he feigned excitement, Nico was torn with the disappointment of leaving Will even when it meant the promise of freedom. "Will he even want to see me when I'm gone?" Nico wondered.

"No. I have to stay safe. Love is a weapon, and temporary- it's better to stay away from it altogether."

Please Review!