Annabeth hadn't slept or showered in two days. Her hair was greasy and she smelt of sweat. Sally sat next to her in the hospital cafeteria, she looked just as tired. The two of them poked at the chicken on their plates, they had a few minutes before they would get to see Percy. The air between Sally and Annabeth had a tense feeling, there was an elephant in the room that Annabeth was going to talk about.

"We thought it was food poisoning." She muttered angrily. Annabeth should've known from the beginning, but Percy said it hadn't been that bad. Then Sally called her one day with the news. Percy had been admitted into the ICU. Annabeth counted the days; two weeks.

"He's always been one to make everything seem easier than it is." Sally said softly, reaching over to rub Annabeth's shoulder. It was a comforting gesture, and Annabeth sighed, slumping over.

"I expected a monster or Zeus to zap him." She said, putting a piece of tasteless meat in her mouth. The two finished the small plates in silence, making their way to his room. A sympathetic nurse let them in, and Annabeth took her seat next to Percy.

He looked terrible, his skin a yellow tone, multiple IVs hooked up to his arms. A big machine in the corner beeped regularly, sending what seemed to be his blood through filters and back into his body. A feeding tube taped to his cheek and ran through his nose down into his stomach. Percy's hair stuck her his forehead and his eyes were closed. He was medically sedated, practically a purposeful coma. The doctors said it was a small chance he'd live. Wires hooked up to the heart-rate monitor, beeping along.

"No more sushi." Annabeth sighed, hearing a doctor come in.

"Ms. Chase. Mrs. Jackson." He said grimly, and Annabeth huffed.

"I'm Sally, since we'll be here often." Sally said with some sort of strength Annabeth had been robbed of in that moment. She simply looked at Percy for the millionth time.

"We're putting him on antibiotics. There are a few side effects, though." The doctor said, his face studying Annabeth's. She looked over at him, pulling her hair up into a ponytail again.

"Which are?" She asked, wondering if she could just give Percy ambrosia. He'd have to wake up first.....

"Hallucinations, headaches, dehydration, fatigue, overactive bladder, high blood pressure." The doctor said, listing the effects.

"This situation is giving me high blood pressure." She muttered, "Thanks, Dr. Cole." She sighed, looking back to Percy. She heard Dr. Cole leave, Annabeth took Percy's hand. Sally said something about going home to see Paul, to update him on Percy's situation. Paul loved Percy like his own son,and the two were a great team. He had been crushed to learn he was in the hospital.

Percy's heart-rate dropped sharply, and Annabeth shot up. "Percy?" She croaked, nurses flooding in to attend to Percy. She moved aside to let them get to Percy. She focused on his face, her knuckles white as she clutched the side of the hospital bed. His rate kept dropping, and Annabeth started shouting at him.

"DAMMIT PERCY YOU'VE FOUGHT WORSE THAN THIS!" She yelled, "NOT NOW!" She held onto his hand still, "as long as we're together, Percy! Remeber?!"


One long beep, a flat line.

---

Annabeth sat on the porch of her cabin at camp, just out of the shower and already reading. She stayed silent all day, barely eating anything. Reyna stood in front of her now.

"Annabeth." She greeted, making Annabeth look up, "The whole camp is off, what happened?" Annabeth looked at Reyna. The praetor didn't wear her normal armor, her normal aura of power and strength. She has a caring tone to her words.

"Really? Just one person makes the mood change?" She scoffed, brushing it off.

"Your friends are tense, too. When you're tense you tend to make it contagious." Reyna sat down next to Annabeth on the steps.

"Tense isn't the best word." Annabeth sighed, leaning on Reyna.

"Then what is it?" Reyna asked her, wrapping her in a hug.

"Percy's gone." She said, her voice cracking.

Reyna held Annabeth at arms reach, "we need to find him again."

"I know where he is, Reyna. He's going to be six feet under in five days." Annabeth felt herself break.

"Percy's dead?" Reyna asked, her breath hitching. Annabeth nodded and broke into sobs. Reyna pulled her in and rubbed little circles on Annabeth's back. They sat there for a few moments before spoke up.

"This is bullshit." She sobbed, holding Reyna tight.

"This is life." Reyna replied, letting one of her own tears fall into Annabeth's wet hair.

Notes

GUESS WHO UPDATED

YOURS TRULY


I felt like giving myself major feels during writing this thank you very much.


Soooooo an updates will still (probably) be infrequent. Life is happening. Finals are next week. Ugh. Thanks so much for reading, love you all!!!!!



~Nova~