The babysitter

Fifty-Eight

Percy didn't realize how tiring coming back from the dead was. As soon as Percy was under the covers, she fell asleep. She had slept through breakfast but was surprised to see Jason still laying next to her when she woke up just in time for lunch. Jason had crawled on top of her just enough to make eye contact. "Hey, Doll."

"Hey, Jay." Percy smiles, lazily. 

"I've missed you." Jason lays back down and she rolls into his chest while he plays with her hair.

"I know, and I'm sorry." Percy's stomach was still half eaten from guilt throughout the whole night. She wishes she could say that she lost sleep over Damian being upset, but she was so tired that she couldn't even think about it. 

Jason pulls away just slightly, enough to look into her eyes and stroke her cheek. "It's not your fault. And I will keep reminding you, until you believe me."

"If only everyone thought like you." Percy sighed, her mind going back to the little boy. She knew she wasn't being fair to Jason, this was the first time that he has seen her in months. But she can't help but to worry about Damian.

"Damian..." Jason paused, "You know how he is. He's prickly, but he'll warm back up to you. I know."

"I know." Percy tried to convince herself. It took forever for Damian to warm up to her in the first place and when she came back from college, she had barely gotten close with him again before whatever the hell had happened. 

Jason sighed, "I'll go tell Alfred that we're up for lunch and you go talk to Damian." Jason gave a swift kiss to her head before climbing out of bed. He pulled on a shirt before slipping into his slippers. 

"Are you sure?" Percy sat up in bed. 

"Yes." Jason almost laughed. "I know it's bugging you, so it's bugging me. Plus, I regardless of how mad he is, Damian won't allow you to disappear again." He sent a small smile over to her before heading to the door. 

"It's not your fault." Percy reminded him. 

"It's not yours either." Jason counted. Then he sent another smile before slipping out the door to give Percy time to dress. Percy had just enough time laugh softly at his antics before he popped his head back in, "You're not going on a mission for awhile, by the way."

Percy couldn't help the smile that forced it's way onto her face. "Yeah, I figured."

"Just thought I would tell you." Jason sent her a wink before leaving and closing the dooring behind him. 

Percy watched the door for just a second longer before falling back onto the bed. Her mind traveled to the boy down the hall and how she would even begin to talk to him. She hated that he closed her off. Percy knew that he had his reasons, but it hurt to know that she was one of the unstable people in his life. Trying to get rid of the guilt that was making her sick, she sat up. Running her hands through her hair, Percy knew that she should just get it over with. Percy slipped out of bed and out of the room. She felt as if there was a boa constrictor around her chest as she tried to take a deep breathe. Percy crept through the hall as if she would scare Damian away if he heard her. 

Percy stopped at Damian's door and slowly raised her first to knock. Lightly rapping her knuckles against the door, she hesitantly waited for an answer. 

"What do you want?" Damian called from within. 

"I..."Percy paused trying to calm down. Why was she so nervous. It reminded her of when she applied for this job. "It's Percy. I was wondering if you had time to talk?"

Percy waited a second. Two seconds. "Damian?"

She waited a beat more. "Listen, I just wanted to say-"