AN: Hey guys! Sorry I haven't been posting much. I've been really sick, and I still am, so please be patient. I'd like to thank everyone for your encouraging words. It helped.

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO.

After Percy's meltdown, Jason wasn't completely sure if the guy was mentally stable. Maybe Jason should reconsider that Tartarus might have messed with his head a little. Or a lot. He also wasn't sure how the rest of the team was managing.

Piper, who had picked up many skills that past month, was on guard duty on the top deck. She wore her armor overtop of her smiley face pajama set. Her fuzzy pink slippers flopped constantly against the boards as she paced back and forth. She held a sword in her right hand while her left hand ran through her hair. Her now bright blue eyes were focused out into the clouds.

Hazel, who was becoming talented with the mist, was also on guard duty. She held her sword in her left, the opposite of Piper, and had a shield in the other. She wore black sweats and sneakers instead of her pj's. It was a little more practical, but it worked either way. Besides, he wouldn't know if those sweats were here pajamas or not, since she was always dressed for the day before breakfast.

Frank, who was slowly becoming more of a leader, could be heard snoring in his room. The guy had just gone through 30 hours without any sleep, so Jason thought he deserved it.

Leo, who was silent for some reason, was steering the ship quickly. He was still wearing the same cloths he had worn the whole day. He had long khaki pants with pockets along the side, along with a white shirt paired with suspenders. His boots were covered in mud, which concerned Jason. They hadn't been around any ground for a day, and they defiantly hadn't been near mud.

"I'm heading to bed; if you need me just knock!" Jason informed them as he headed down the steps.

"Ok!"

Jason didn't mean to snoop, but as he walked down the hallway, he could hear loud talking coming from Percy's door. He tip-toed toward the door, hoping not to make them aware of his presence, and kneeled down. He tilted his head so his ear was on top of the door.

"I'm telling you Percy, there is nothing to worry about. Your mother told me that she knew you were alive and well. She just wants you to come home safe and sound, and I can't argue with that." A feminine voice said. Jason assumed this was Annabeth.

"I know, what are the chances of that? Think about it Annabeth, how many friends did we lose in the second Titan War? Beckendorf and Selene? That could be us now!" Percy sighed. "But I'm not going to back down. I just want you to be aware of this."

"Do you think I don't know this? I was there too! They were my friends as well!" Annabeth cried. "So what changed Percy? What made you think that I suddenly not capable of protecting myself and the ones I love? Because I thought you trusted me?"

"Annabeth, you know I trust you." Percy muttered. "I just wanted you to know there was a change. We're no longer just fighting and protecting ourselves, but each other as well. It wasn't like the first go around, I'm no longer invincible. I can't take as many hits as I could then. This time if I'm stabbed, I'm dead."

"You idiot! I'm a daughter of Athena, the wisdom goddess! Of course I already figured this out!" There was a slapping noise. "You need to get this through your thick skull. I will always protect you."

"I know, and that's the problem!" Percy barked back. "I can't have you taking a knife for me again. Piper, Frank, and the others will need you. They need a guiding wise force. You've been studying for this your whole life, I haven't. Percy paused. "I just don't want you throwing your life away for me."

Jason gasped. These two were having the talk that every demigod never wanted to have. It was the 'If I Don't Make It' talk. Jason had seen it around the beginning of the Titan war, when the Romans weren't sure how the war was going to end. Now it was happening again right in front of him.

"Percy," Annabeth mumbled sounding close to tears. "Saving you wouldn't be throwing my life away. It would be worth everything that I would lose in return."

"What about your brothers Annabeth?" Percy muttered. "You have siblings that you need to take care of. Your father and your step-mom will be waiting for you! I can't take you away from them."

"And what about your mother? What about Paul?" Annabeth argued back. There is no way in Hades I could deal with breaking the news to your mother. Do you know how hard it was when I told her you were missing? She was crying her eyes out!"

"You can't seriously still be blaming me for that? Hera freaking kidnapped me and stole my memories. It's not like I asked her to take. Besides, I thought we dealt with this a month ago?" Percy complained.

"Maybe we shouldn't be having this conversation right now." Annabeth mumbled. "You should be getting sleep..."

"We"

"So that we'll be ready for the next fight." Percy paused. "You should go."

"Fine," Annabeth spat. "But this conversation is far from over. We'll be finishing this soon."

Jason backed away slowly from the doorway, and he snuck to the end of the hallway. He watched as Annabeth stomped to her room, and Percy stood at his door. Jason saw Percy check to see if Annabeth was back in her room.

"You know telling your girlfriend not to save your life isn't the best idea most of the time." Jason warned. Percy spun around to face him. "You need someone to talk to?"

"No," Percy muttered. "I'm not really in the mood to have an all out girl talk. You're my friend and all, but that's never going to happen."

Jason raised his hands in defense. "I swear, no girl talk happening. I'm just worried about you, man."

"Fine, come in."

Walking into Percy's room, he noticed how disorganized Percy could be. Cloths were thrown everywhere around the room, including on top of a window sill. There were three books inside the room. First one was located on top of a chair, and the other two were on the nightstand. All together the place was a downright mess.

"So, aren't you going to ask what's up?" Percy mumbled.

"I could hear the two of you shouting from the hallway and on deck. You guys could have kept it down ya know?" Jason attempted to joke. The attempt failed. "But seriously, what happened?"

"I guess I decided I didn't want my girlfriend risking my life for me and almost getting herself killed for me again. She doesn't agree with me though. What she doesn't understand that it's not up to her, but the Fates." Percy exclaimed.

"You shouldn't worry about it then." Percy gave Jason a look. "If it's up to the Fates, then you shouldn't worry about it."

"Thanks."