"I can't believe you, man," Dean grumbled as the three boys drove down the backway. "Why would you blow up a volcano?"

It was around midnight after Percy had finished telling the brothers about his third quest of saving Annabeth, when Dean had decided to ask if demigods could use explosives.

Naturally, Percy told him that they could, but only for recon missions, if necessary at all, and that's when he made the mistake of saying that he blew up the Mount St. Helen's volcano.

Both Winchesters stared at him, speechless. Then simultaneously burst out laughing.

"To be fair," Percy defended himself over the insane laughter. "There were like, maybe twenty telkhines down in the workshop and they decided to make matters worse by throwing lava on me."

"What happened to stop, drop, and roll?" Dean tried asking, but ended up chuckling anyway.

"I...couldn't really...concentrate," Percy lamely said, feeling the heat forming on his cheeks. He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, while Sam and Dean continued to laugh.

"So what happened after that?" Sam spoke, once he had his laughter settled down.

"Well," Percy shrugged. "I kind of just called on the ocean and...let it all out." He made gesture to himself and slowly pushed his hands out.

Sam glanced at his brother, all humor aside, before looking back at Percy. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Percy sighed. "That I basically used up all my energy, my power, and called on the sea, making the volcano erupt. With me along in the process."

"You made half a million people evacuate the area, Percy," Sam replied.

Percy groaned and covered his head in his hands. "Don't remind me."

Dean smirked. "You must've been sore."

Percy scoffed. "You're telling me." He lifted his head. "I could barely get up for a week after that little stunt."

Dean chuckled at the reply, then drove on in silence.

Sam spoke up. "Shouldn't you call your parents, Percy? Just to make sure that they know where you are?"

Percy didn't have an answer to that. He did  want to call his mom just so she wouldn't worry about him, but he was almost positive that his mom would tell Annabeth or Jason where he was headed and he did not want to make his girlfriend even more angry than she already is. He's done that before and it didn't end very well.

He cleared his throat. "Uh, no. I mean, it's pretty late and I don't want to wake Mom and Paul up."

Way to sound like you just ran away from your problems, Perce, he belittled himself. At this point, he could already feel the stares of the brother before him.

"Plus," Percy added before one of the brothers could talk. "I can't use phones."

"Why?" Dean asked.

"It sends up a signal to monsters," Percy replied. "I already have a powerful aura, I don't need to be adding technology to the mix and have monsters come after me for lunch."

"What did you mean when you said about you having a powerful aura?" Sam asked.

"Every demigod has an aura, a scent, that monsters can smell," Percy explained. "As a demigod, monsters are attracted to you. But as a child of the Big Three, like me and some of my other friends, then monsters are naturally attracted to you. My mom had to marry this awful guy, who used to be my step-father, until I learned what I was."

"What happened to him?" Sam carefully asked. "To your ex-step-father, I mean. If you don't mind my asking," the younger brother added.

"I don't mind," Percy replied. In fact, he wanted to see how the Winchester brother would react. "I gave my mother the head of Medusa that I had cut off and she used it to turn Gabe to stone."

Neither sibling spoke for quite a while after that blunt statement. Almost five miles later, Percy spoke up again.

"So how long until we get there?" Percy asked.

"Is someone getting sleepy?" Dean grinned in the mirror, forgetting the fact that Percy's mother basically killed her husband.

Percy made a face at the older Winchester, to which Dean retaliated by sticking his tongue out at him. Sam chuckled at the two.

"No," Percy answered. "I'm a demigod, which means that I have ADHD and dyslexia."

"Huh," Dean mused. "I was wondering why my chair was vibrating."

Percy's cheeks flushed red, thanking every god on Olympus that it was nighttime and that the siblings couldn't see his face.

"It's not that bad," Percy insisted, but the brothers were too busy laughing at him.

***********

"You boys hungry?" Dean spoke after a couple of miles.

It was already 1:09 in the morning. The three boys have been driving around for a little over six hours now, of course Percy was hungry. He was starving! His stomach was growling.

Ever since he left camp, Percy had to scrounged for food wherever he could. It's not like he had any money on him. Plus, he left as soon as everyone in camp fell asleep, so it wasn't like he could go get money. He was thinking about bringing his hard-earned money that he had made during the summer, but it was at his mother's apartment, and he didn't want to explain to his mom why he was coming home in the middle of the night.

But alas, the only thing that he brought was an extra set of clothes, ambrosia and nectar, his watch/shield, and his pen. And a first-aid kit, just in case that he got injured in the middle of nowhere with no water nearby, knowing his luck.

Good thing I paid attention during Will's first-aid class, Percy thought as his stomach rumbled loudly.

"Geez, Percy," Dean exclaimed. "I heard you the first time. No need to keep telling me."

Percy blushed and grinned. "Well, are we there yet?" He asked.

"We're about twenty minutes out," the elder Winchester answered.

Percy nodded and fell silent, waiting for a few minutes before asking, "How about now?"

Looking into the rearview mirror, Percy saw Dean raising an eyebrow.

"About the same thing as you asked five minutes ago," he replied. Percy nodded.

Again, two minutes later, Percy piped up. "How about now?" He saw Sam's head shake in amusement. Dean, not so much.

The older brother narrowed his eyes. "No. Not even close."

Percy asked a few more times, causing Sam to chuckle as Dean's impatience began to show. Percy was about to open his mouth to ask again, when Dean beat him to the punch.

"I swear, if you ask one more time, I will turn this car around and you won't be getting anything, so help me God."

At this point, Sam was close to tears from laughing too hard. Dean, on the other hand, was trying to appear annoyed, but the image was ruined by a slight smile that was playing on his lips.

Percy laughed, a huge sense of relief running through him. He couldn't remember the last time he laughed like that. He shook his head. He didn't want to ruin the mood.

About fifteen minutes later, Dean pulled up to a small diner called Hope 'n Place. Percy snorted softly. How ironic.

Apparently, Dean was thinking the same thing.

"Of course, there's a diner called Hope," Dean retorted, rolling his eyes. "Like there's any hope left at all," he muttered under his breath, walking into the diner with Sam and Percy following close behind.

Percy got the feeling that he wasn't supposed to hear that. He looked over to Sam, who gave his brother a sad look as he sat down at a table with Percy sitting next to him and Dean sliding across from them.

"What do you mean?" Percy couldn't help but wonder.

Dean looked up when he realized that Percy had spoken. "What do I mean what?" The elder Winchester replied back.

"When you said that there isn't any hope left," Percy said, hoping that he didn't push too far.

Dean stared at Percy before looking to Sam, then back to Percy. He shook his head answering, "Nothing, kid. Forget I said anything."

Percy wanted to protest, but before he could get the chance to open his mouth, a young, petite blonde waitress came up to their table. Then, without giving them a glance, she brought out her order sheet and a pen.

She quietly said to them, "Welcome to Hope 'n Place. What would you like?"

Guess she's a little shy around other people, Percy observed, noticing how she kept glancing up at the boys then back down to her notepad when one of them caught her eye.

Dean smiled at the waitress, making her blush. "I'll have a double cheeseburger with extra fries and a black coffee."

"Make that two black coffees and a chicken salad, please," Sam gently said, giving her his menu.

The waitress scribbled down the order before taking Sam's menu.

She turned to Percy. "And you?" She shyly asked.

Percy gave her a soft, friendly smile. "I'll have the cheeseburger and fries as well," he answered. "With a Coke, please..." he looked at her nametag. "Tori."

Tori's cheeks were red as she nodded and returned Percy's smile with a shy one of her own. "Your drinks will be out shortly," she softly commented before moving away from their table.

Percy watched her as she walked away. She reminded him a little bit of Annabeth, with her curly blonde hair and her smile. His heart gave a little pang at the thought of his girlfriend. He missed her. In fact, he missed all of his friends back at camp.

Before he left, Percy debated on whether or not if he should leave a note for his friends so they wouldn't worry about him as much, but he was too upset to leave one at the time. His friends lied to him for weeks about what had gone down after he died. He knew they were just protecting him, but still. He had a right to know.

Percy sighed. He figured his friends deserved the benefit of the doubt. He'd IM them later, once he and the Winchesters settled down for the night, just to tell them that he's fine.

"You dig her, don't you, Percy?" Dean's voice cut through Percy's thoughts, bringing him back to the present. Percy looked up to see Dean smirking.

"What?" Percy asked, confused as to why the older brother was giving him that look.

"I said," Dean repeated. "You like the waitress."

"What?" Percy protested. "No, I don't. I have a girlfriend."

Dean choked on his coffee (when did they get drinks?). "Seriously?" He asked. "You have a girlfriend? Ow!"

"Dean." Sam scolded. He turned to Percy. "What's she like, Percy?"

"Well," Percy slowly began. "My girlfriend, Annabeth, has curly, blonde hair, kind of like a princess," he added as an afterthought. "She also has stormy, grey eyes that look like you could get lost in them. She's cray smart, like you, Sam." Sam smiled at that.

Soon, Percy forgot that he was talking to them, he just kept describing Annabeth and how she had saved him and him her over the past five years. Percy barely noticed the amused looks Sam and Dean gave each other. Percy only stopped when he saw the waitress, Tori, bringing their food.

Dean cleared his throat after Tori left, snapping to get Percy's attention.

The elder Winchester grinned. "I see."

Percy felt his cheeks go red. "Sorry," he mumbled. "I didn't mean to get carried away there."

"It's fine, Percy." Sam laughed. "Your girlfriend sounds like she's amazing."

"Yeah, she is." Percy looked at the younger brother when he said that, his voice growing soft and wistful. Percy was about to ask Sam, but the young hunter shook his head and dug into his salad.

Percy glanced at Dean and the older brother, noticing his little brother's expression, met Percy's gaze and shook his head ever so slightly.

I'll tell you later.

Percy nodded. Message received.

The three boys ate in silence after that.

Once the guys had finished off their meal, Dean broke the quiet.

"So, Percy," the elder brother said, sipping his coffee. "What's your plan?"

"My plan?" Percy repeated. "For what?"

"For, you know," Dean gestured vaguely to Percy. "Your hunt or whatever the hell it is."

"Quest?" Percy supplied.

Dean snapped his fingers. "Yeah, that."

Sam shook his head. "You do have a plan, don't you, Percy?"

"Uh..." Percy replied intelligently. He honestly had no clue as to what he was searching for. "Not really," he answered sheepishly.

Sam nodded, while his big brother tried to hide his snort unsuccessfully. "Well, we're happy to help in whatever way we can," Sam offered. Percy nodded his thanks, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.

Dean stood up, pulling out his wallet. "Well on that happy note," he placed a twenty and a five on the table. "I say we stop for the night."

"Seriously?" Sam balked. "You want to stop early? Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"

Dean's only reply was flipping his brother off before walking out of the diner and towards the car. Sam and Percy fell in line, chuckling along the way.

***********

The boys drove about another 100 miles before Dean decided to pull off the interstate around 3:00 am and headed towards the only vacancy motel called the Cozy Inn.

Seriously, Percy thought as they pulled up next to the cute little motel. Who decides to name these places? It's like they're asking for it to be cliché.

Once Dean had put the car in park, he got out and went to go check them in. He closed the door softly, since Sam had fallen asleep, but the younger brother woke up anyway.

"Wha-?" Sam groggily asked, rubbing his eyes.

"We're here," Percy said. "Dean went to go check in."

Sam yawned and nodded, seeming more alert.

Percy had tried going to sleep himself after they left the diner, but he just couldn't. Well, unless you counted the five-minute naps that Percy got, but other than that, he was wide awake.

Every time that Percy tried to sleep, his mind kept reeling back to only one thing: He had died. When he closes his eyes, he keeps playing the moment he was killed in his head.

Now, Percy was fairly used to getting up close and personal with death loads of times over the past couple of years, but getting stabbed and dying, and then miraculously coming back to life? The feeling was discomforting.

Sure, he's seen a few people come back to life after they died, but that was different. That time, Death had been locked up and souls were coming back out into the world. But once Death had been freed and went back to his job, Percy should have died, not that he necessarily wanted to die, per say, but he should've. The way that he came back was unnatural.

Sam must've sense Percy's inner turmoil. He shifted around to face Percy, concern written on his face. "You alright, Percy?"

Percy snapped out of his thoughts and glanced to Sam. He wasn't sure what to say. He didn't want Sam to think that he was suicidal, how he thought that he should've stay dead.

But maybe he knows how it feels, a small part of Percy's subconscious hoped. After all, he is a hunter, and from what Percy could gather, being a hunter is sort of like being a demigod. You risk your life every day to save those around you and that may come at a price.

Percy made up his mind. He was going to tell Sam about he really felt about coming back to life.

But as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, Dean returned to the car, cursing under his breath about slow work services.

"'It's the middle of the goddamn night'," Dean mocked. "Stupid son of a bitch, I know it's the middle of the night, why do you think we stopped? Just so we could howl at the freaking moon or something?"

Sam chuckled at his brother's rant. Percy forced himself to laugh as well, pushing his dark thoughts away for the time being.

"Room 12," Dean sobered, guiding the sleek, black car along the small parking lot to the room.

He parked the car, and the three guys got out, Percy slinging his back across his shoulder.

"Here, Percy." Dean tossed the keys to Percy, seeing as how he doesn't have much stuff to carry.

Percy went to the door and unlocked it, as Sam and Dean went around the back of the car to grab their bags.

Perch stepped into the room and turned on the lights. And immediately regretting of making that decision.

The walls alone were enough to make any person dizzy. It was an ugly shade of yellow, which Percy thought was impossible, but apparently it wasn't.

The floor looked as if a million little bugs had decided to throw a party night after night as soon as the last guest that had booked the room left. The two beds were on the other side of the room, with crusty-looking sheets, the pillows even worse.

Percy shuddered. "This is lovely."

"Welcome to our world." Dean came up behind him, patting him on the shoulder, making Percy jump in surprise.

"Seriously?" Percy asked. "This is a functional motel room?" He shook his head in disbelief. "I think the manager is trying to play a trick on the guests: make them think they're staying in a cute, fuzzy motel room, then finding out that the rooms should be quarantined."

Sam chuckled. "Tell that to every motel manager ever."

He took his bag to place it on bed furthest away from the door, before unzipping it and grabbing a T-shirt, a pair of sweatpants, his toothbrush and toothpaste then headed towards the bathroom to clean up.

Percy just awkwardly stood in the middle of the room, unsure of what he should be doing at this point.

Dean noticed him and chuckled. "You gonna stand there all night or get ready for bed?"

"But there are only two beds," Percy stammered, clearing his throat.

Dean raised his eyebrows, smirking. "And?"

"And where are you going to sleep?" Percy asked.

"On the couch." Dean pointed to the small furniture that was by the equally small kitchenette.

"That doesn't look very comfortable," Percy commented.

"Kid, when you live the life that we do," Dean explained. "You'll be very happy that you at least have a roof over your head."

Percy thought about it, then nodded in understanding before replying, "I'm not a kid."

Dean just laughed and gently maneuvered Percy towards the spare bed and pushed him down, just as Sam came out.

Percy huffed out a small smile and rolled his eyes. He dumped his belongings out of his backpack to see what he could wear to bed, until he remembered that when he left in a rush, he forgot to pack something to sleep in.

He closed his eyes and sighed. He opened his eyes and pulled out the other shirt and removed the one that he was currently wearing to put the new one on.

Once he had down that, Percy looked at his camp shirt, taking in the sight. The shirt looked like it been through Hades, it was so dirty and worn. It still had claw marks from his encounter from his nightmares and the words Camp Half-Blood were covered in blood and dirt, nearly fading. But he could still wear it. You know, after he washed it a couple thousand times and sew it back up.

"You didn't really think this through, have you?" Sam's gently voice asked.

Percy looked up from his small pile and into the eyes of the younger Winchester. "Uh." Percy sighed. "No, Not really."

"So what?" Dean asked as he walked out of the bathroom (when did he enter it anyway?). "You just decided that you were going on a little quest and packed a few pairs of clothes, thinking that you'll return in a couple of days?"

Percy scratched his head and ruefully smiled. "Yeah, something like that."

Dean reached into his bag and grabbed an extra pair of sweatpants and tossed them to Percy. "They might be a bit big on you, but those should be fine."

Percy was touched, staring at the sweats that Dean had given him. He couldn't believe that these two men before him, who barely even knew him, were being so kind to him.

"Thank you," he softly spoke.

Dean shrugged like it was no big deal. And really, it wasn't but to Percy, it was everything. "It's just sweats, dude."

Percy shook his head. "No, I mean...thank you. For everything. You two are probably the only ones who know what I'm going through and you helped me, even though we barely know each other." He cleared his throat. "So, thank you. Both of you." He held their gazes to make sure that he knew he meant it. And he did.

Percy took in a deep breath before grabbing the sweats and headed towards the bathroom to go wash up. When he got out, he headed to bed, oblivious to the looks the Winchesters were giving him, and fell asleep.