Well, here we go. This is part deux to Thorn.
Disclaimer: Don't own it. Nope. No Percy Jackson or NEEDTOBREATHE.
-Percy-
Running to the Big House, I had no idea what could happen. Annabeth was hurt badly. She might not make it this time. But for Thorn, I put on a smile. The poor girl can't know that she might lose her mom.
But gods was it good to see camp again. The cabins, the Big House, Chiron… it was all the same. Except that most of my old friends were gone. Left at eighteen and didn't come back.
I didn't like the looks people were giving us. We weren't any more special than them, just had an unfortunate twist of fate. Thorn ran up to us just as I put Annabeth in a cot.
"Dad" she panted "What happened to you?"
I shared a smile with Chiron "Monsters. They found us again"
"Is mom…" she asked, touching moms wound
"She'll be alright Thorn, it's just a cut. You see at camp, we have Ambrosia and Nectar; the food of the gods. "
Chiron motioned for the Apollo campers to enter, and among them I recognized a very familiar face
"Will? Will Solace? Is that you?" I asked, clasping him on the back.
He smiled at me, and shook my hand "Yeah, it's me. Still senior councillor, as you can see." Will examined her various wounds "This reminds me of the war. Same situation, but man, were you ever scary that day."
"Middle of the war, Will. My not-really-girlfriend just took a knife for me. I think I had an excuse" he smiled. Thorn looked between the two of us, not sure how to react.
"You mean… You know each other?" she sat at Annabeth's side, staring at me with big green eyes
"Course. You dad and I go back years." Will said, crouching to her level "But let's get a look at that cut"
He carefully pulled back the dressing, red blood oozing into his fingers. When it was completely unwrapped, the wound was an infected shade of green
"Mom? Are you okay?" Thorn asked her, brushing her hair from the ugly wound. "Mom hang in there. We're going to make it all better."
I was dumbfounded by my daughter's words. How could she be so calm? Her mom was dying!
"Percy, give her some of this. She needs to wake up" Will said, pushing Ambrosia into my hands. I gently forced some of the cake into her mouth. Wake up. Oh Annabeth, wake up.
But she didn't. And all I could think about how this was my fault. If only I tried harder…
"Don't worry, Percy. Annabeth's strong. She'll come around, she has to. But Thorn won't last much longer" Chiron said from behind me. I spun around to see a crying ten year old.
My crying ten year old.
I turned around to face my best friend "Grover, do something with Thorn. Go swimming, read a book; I don't care. Just do something" I said quickly, picking up my daughter. Thank the gods Grover understood. He took her hand and led her out, Thorn protesting.
I sat at my wives bedside.
"Beth, you have to wake up. For me, for our daughter; don't leave me like this."
Will was still working furiously, his face beaded with sweat. But Annabeth's wound was deep, and there were so many…
"Percy what about you? Any significant wounds?" another Apollo kid asked. He looked so much like… the former Apollo councillor that I almost called him that.
"Uh… I don't think so. Deal with Annabeth first. I'll survive until then" he nodded, and then went back to work.
"Percy go lie down. I know how tired you are. You can't keep going much longer, deal with yourself first. Annabeth wouldn't want you to do this and we both know it." Will said, pointing to the empty cot beside hers. "Get some sleep."
I collapsed in the bed and fell asleep before I closed my eyes
The funny thing about insomnia was that it put everything into perspective
The calm land between asleep and awake relaxed me. A sweet lake of daze for a very long time.
La di da…
I painfully pried my eyes open
Or like how good it felt to wake up to a concerned face. No matter how crappy I felt, at least those shivers of joy were keeping me awake.
"Beth… oh Annabeth" with that, he collapsed into my arms. I was stunned. Percy was… worried? 'Bout me? That's a first.
"Thorn." I managed, my tongue thick in my mouth
"She's okay" he assured me, sitting at my side "Staying in the Athena cabin for now. But don't worry, just rest. I've got it under control"
"Good." I sighed into the sheets. But really, I meant so much more. It just took someone like Percy to read between the lines.
"Everything will be alright, Beth. Chiron and I have been watching over you all day. But look! We're at camp!"
I did as he asked and almost sighed in pleasure. I was home.
"What…Time. Is it?" I managed, betrayed by my voice
"9:32" he said, glancing at the phone is his hand "At night. You've been asleep for two days."
What? No way. How's that possible?
"How…" I wondered
"Poison" He confirmed "Will and Chiron pretty much healed you, but it took its toll…"
"What do you mean?" I asked, this time, my voice steady
He glanced at my eyes and sighed. I abruptly stood and tried to take a step, but fell in response.
But Percy caught me, and placed me; gently yet firmly, back into the bed.
"You're just not strong enough yet. Here. I'll just tell you." He took my hand. It was shaking. "Annabeth you look so sick, I feel horrible. I should have known, watched you better. It's all my fault…"
But I silenced him with a kiss. Not deeply, just a sweet little peck on the cheek.
"How could it be your fault? It's mine. I should have watched out. My battle reflexes are slowing down. We need to train." I tried to rise again, without success.
"No, we need to rest." He kissed me back and stood "But when you're better, we can take Thorn to the arena and train her. The girl needs a good sword arm"
I nodded and collapsed into the warm sheets. "Tomorrow."
"Sure Beth, Tomorrow. Sweet dreams"
He closed the curtain and left, leaving me wondering if he'd been there at all.
I left the infirmary with a feeling of dread. How dare I tell her that everything was going to be alright in her condition? I had no right, and she knew it.
I walked, almost out of habit to Cabin Six. Knocking at the door expecting my wife to answer the door. What I found surprised me.
"Hello?" a girl asked, looking at me in the doorway. She took a step back in surprise "Percy… Jackson? Is that you?"
"Yes." I said, my voice strong. "And you're… Adrianna, Right?"
She nodded quickly and invited me inside. Thank the gods the place hadn't changed. Adrianna pointed to a lower bunk.
"This is Thorn's bunk. Annabeth's old one, actually. I saved it for her if she ever did come back" she said. I smiled at her words and waited for Thorn to come out of the bathroom. Everyone's stares made me nervous.
"Uh… hi. I'm Percy Jackson." I said nervously.
"Yeah, we know" one kid answered. I was happy to hear a familiar voice. One that had interrupted me in this cabin before. Years ago.
"Malcolm." I smiled. "How's things?"
"Alright. But we've sure missed our old councillor. How's she doing?" he asked, not noticing Thorn exiting the washroom, her blond hair wet and curly.
"Better. She just woke up. I made her rest though, rest assure. She's going to be fine." He sighed gratefully.
"Dad?" Thorn ran into my arms. I hugged her tightly.
"Hey, sweetheart." I kissed the top of her head "ready for bed?"
She glared at me "Uh, no. Is mom okay?"
Malcolm laughed at her expense. "You sure she's Annabeth's? Because right now, she sounds like you"
"Thanks for the parental support Malcolm." I seethed, icicles dripping off my words. Everyone laughed.
"Well, none of us thought this day would come. Percy Jackson, Hero of Olympus, learning how to parent a ten year old."
"Well feel free to share your wisdom." I said, facing the group with an intimidating glare
"Uh no. I value my life. Nice seeing you, Perce. Have a good night" He threw me a duffle bag. "Here, we packed her stuff. Figured she would want to sleep in Poseidon tonight"
I smiled gratefully and took my daughters hand.
"Thanks guys" she managed. "It means a lot to me"
With a parade of goodbyes, we left cabin six. I led her across the familiar green in silence.
"So you… lived here before?" she asked, her eyes completely bewildered.
"Yeah. I lived here for what, a good eight or nine years. This is where I met your mom hey? And was in her situation when I first got here. Funny how the tables turned." I smiled at my daughter and entered the Poseidon cabin.
"This was-is my cabin. Cabin Three." I pushed open the familiar door and breathed in the familiar smells.
"Which ones yours?" she asked, looking around anxiously.
"Right there," I said, pointing to the old bunk. "I'm gonna get ready. Sweet dreams"
I walked to the bathroom and changed into my old camp pajamas, brushing my teeth, and walking back out. Thorns voice called out in the darkness.
"Hey dad?" she asked, her voice timid
"Yeah?"
"Tell me about your best memory from camp"
I thought hard. I had so many good memories from this place. It was hard to choose just one.
"Did I ever tell you about the time we rescued Zeus' Master Bolt?" I asked her
"You, what?"
I chuckled at her reaction. We had so much to tell her
"Well, I was twelve years old, had just arrived to camp. Gramma Sally was still gone, but we had to leave"
"Why was Gramma Sally gone?" she asked
I smiled in the darkness.
"Well she was trying to save us, but the Minotaur was on her tail…"
We sat up till midnight, talking about my adventures. She fell asleep somewhere between the Labyrinth and the war. Which was good; I didn't want to explain either
"Sweet dreams, Thorn"
Yes? No? Let me know what you think :)
Not that any of you care, but this story will make A LOT more sense if you read my other one, Day of Lasts. FYI. Sorry if they coincide. I wrote them at the same time. Oh well. That's the way it's gonna roll.
Love,
Silence Nevermore