A huge thank you to everyone who has followed or Favorited! More than 1000 views! YIPPEEE! Thank you, Penny, for your encouragement and review! I am SO thrilled that people like this fic! I am very sorry to tell everyone that I am suffering from a writer's block, so you may find this chapter disappointing in quality. It is a filler chapter in Thalia's POV. I also have exams coming up, so I might stop updating for a while.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot line.

Thalia POV

"What do you mean, Percy? You took who here?" I heard Annabeth's panicked voice when Percy tried to explain my presence.

"Me," I replied calmly, stepping out from behind my subordinate. It has been a long time since I have seen Annabeth. The last time was when we were on the run. "He brought me here." Before I could say anything else, though, Annie crumpled and fainted. Her blonde hair flew upwards and covered her face. Worry instantly flooded my emotions. I hurried over and crouched down beside her, checking for any injuries that may have occurred with her contact when the hard, wooden floor. "Nothing major," I murmured to myself. "A small bruise, but that's it."

"Um, Thalia?" I glanced up and saw Percy Jackson shifting on his feet awkwardly in the doorway. In my worry, I had temporarily forgotten about him. "Anything I can do?"

"Yes, actually," I stood up and replied to his question. "Go to the kitchens and get a wet towel. That will help with the bruise." I saw uncertainty, as if he was hesitant about the idea of going into the kitchens. "What?" I snapped. "Go!"

"Sure," I heard him mumble under his breath. "That idiot Tanaka...girls…" He still haven't moved from his position in the doorway, right beyond the threshold. I bristled at his last word.

"Excuse me?" I glared at him. "Anything you wish to tell me?"

"Nope," he answered hastily. "Just annoyed of the waitresses – except Annabeth, of course." He started towards where I believe the kitchen was, and I turned back to Annabeth's unmoving body. I tried to pick her up, but no avail. She was twenty now, if my memory serves me right. She wasn't the young, frail teenager that needed help on the streets anymore. I had to have Jackson's help if I wanted to move Annie from her current position.

It wasn't long when Jackson came back. He wore an annoyed expression, making me wonder what had happened in the kitchens to make the cheery person so frustrated. But what was important wasn't his mood, but rather the piece of wet towel clutched in his right hand. "Thalia," he began when I took the towel and crouched down again, "please don't make me go into the kitchens alone ever again." I paid no attention to his words, and focused and putting the towel on Annabeth's bruise. It wasn't big – just a small lump on the back of her head.

"Right," I replied halfheartedly. "Now we need to take her somewhere so she won't find herself on the ground when she wakes up. I can't carry her on my own, so get over here and help me carry her…" I paused and glanced around, my eyes eventually resting on a couch beside a table. "There."

With a bit of effort, we successfully carried her to the couch, but she still didn't show any sign of waking up. I could feel the worry in Jackson's gaze when he tried to wake her, and I was sure that I wasn't any better. I was protective by nature. After attempting many fruitless ways to tug Annabeth into the conscious realm, Jackson and I could only wait and chat for the time being. He recounted his first "meeting" with my blonde "sister". I nodded with realization throughout his tale. Jackson was a good storyteller - his humor was a blessing, even though he had no brain-mouth filter. The lack of the filter has brought him punishments many times over because of his blunt and straightforward attitude, but it was useful for humor. Back to the tale. I recalled the day that he turned in his report days earlier than when it was due. I was pleasantly shocked that day. I just took over Octavian's (foolish idiot) place, but I knew well enough people of Jackson's type. He was loyal, devoted, and humorous, but hopelessly blind and blunt at times. I knew that he wasn't one to do his reports properly. I somehow recognized Annie's writing style. It was very different from Jackson's usual "I don't care about this thing" attitude I see in every report. Annabeth has shown me her writing before when we were on the run. She wrote nonfiction and fiction, but the amount of details in her essays were easily distinguishable.

We exchanged stories. I told Jackson about my adventures with Annabeth and Luke, and he told me about his meetings with Annabeth. We remained in the restaurant well into nightfall, checking every once in a while on Annabeth's conditions. She was sleeping peacefully, and the other waitresses didn't question our presence (though I could hear them complaining about Annabeth's absence). It wasn't long before I realized who the Tanaka that Jackson was talking about was. Her giggly and girly demeanor repulsed me. I would never confess to Jackson, but I understand his disgust after he came out of the kitchens.

It was ten already when Annabeth woke up. She started crying uncontrollably when she saw me. I smiled grimly. Burying emotions were acts that I did often, but everyone needs to let all that frustration out once in a while. Annabeth was probably hiding her secrets and pain for years before she spilled it to Jackson. I sat beside Annabeth and hugged her tight before whispering in her ear, "I'm here, Annie. Everything will be fine."

Well, a terrible chapter. I really don't know how to do Thalia's POV. Review please, and I eagerly await any constructive criticism!

- HG519 out!