Chapter 10

Just as she was about to turn and head back to Cabin 3, Annabeth heard galloping and saw Chiron coming towards her from the direction of the Big House. "Annabeth! Why aren't you with Percy?"

He had stopped next to her. "I've been letting the others have a chance to see him, and I brought Hope over here for Clarisse and the others to watch her for Paul and Sally."

He looked at her. "I see. I have spoken to Lord Apollo and the rest of your crew from the quest. They told me about everything that happened. I suppose I can no longer call you 'child.'" He shook his head. "Anyway, I would like to see Percy. I cannot heal him, but maybe I can ease his pain. Lord Apollo and Magnus say it is quite horrible."

Annabeth hugged him. "Of course, Chiron. Come, we will find a way to get him to you." She released him from the hug, and they walked back to the cabin. It was nearly ten o'clock in the evening. She didn't know how Percy had held on as long as he had. It had been nearly four hours since they landed on the beach of Camp Half-Blood already, and Percy was still hanging in there.

They made it to the porch. Annabeth cleared her throat. "Hey, guys, we need to get Percy from his bed to the door so that Chiron can try to help him some."

Will looked at Chiron. "Sir, there's nothing that you can do at this point to save him."

"I know, Will, but I would like to try to ease his pain. I can tell from how pale you are just how bad it is."

Will nodded. "Leo, Frank, Jason, Nico, come on. The stretcher is still in there." Quietly, he knocked on the door and opened it. "Mr. Blofis, Ms. Jackson, Chiron is here. He thinks he can ease Percy's pain, but we need to bring Percy to him. May we come in?"

They must have approved because all five boys entered the room. Annabeth could hear Percy groaning, mumbling, and tossing on his bed. He was suffering. As much as she didn't want him to die, she wanted him to suffer even less. Though she loathed to admit it, Annabeth actually found herself wishing that for once in his life, Percy wouldn't fight quite so hard, that he wouldn't be so stubborn, that for once, he would just give in. But then, like Hazel said, he would not be Percy.

Suddenly, Percy cursed loudly, and she heard a hand connect with another body, followed by a thump and Leo's colorful cursing in Spanish. Percy still flailed about, yelling, and sometimes landing a hit on one of the other guys. Without thinking, Annabeth ran into the room. Paul was holding Sally back beside the fountain. No one stopped Annabeth when she dashed to Percy's side, taking Leo's place at his head. She leaned close to his ear, ran a hand through his hair, and spoke softly to him. "Shhh…Percy, it's me. It's Annabeth."

He quit taking swipes with his arms. "'n-beth?" His voice was ragged.

She kept massaging his scalp. "Yes, Annabeth. I'm here. Chiron's here. He wants to help, but we have to move you."

"Hurts…" he garbled.

"I know, Percy. I know. But if you let us move you, then Chiron will ease the pain. It will hurt to move, but it will all be better if you let us."

He opened his eyes. They were dim and unfocused, and the light had gone out in them. He was blind. She wondered what other organs the poison had killed by this point. He wasn't moving anything below his waist, even with all his flailing about a minute ago, his legs had only been being pulled about by the rest of his body. His spine must have been shutting down. She felt tears prick her eyes but stayed calm as he coughed and struggled to speak. "Chiron…help…pain?" He had turned his face to her but wasn't seeing her, and she knew that somewhere in his pain-addled brain, he thought he had her fooled. She wouldn't call him on it.

"Yes, Chiron will help. Can we take you to him?"

Percy nodded and swallowed. "Stay…with me?"

His hand fluttered around at the edge of the bed. She grabbed it with her own. "I'll never leave. Hold my hand; we're going to move you to the stretcher." She looked up at the others. "Alright guys, he's ready."

Jason got his arms under Percy's shoulders. Percy hissed and squeezed his eyes shut. Frank and Nico had his legs, and Will and Leo held the stretcher. Jason began the count. "One…Two…Three…Lift!"

The three guys lifted Percy as one, and Percy involuntarily cried out, and a couple of tears leaked from his eyes. He clenched Annabeth's hand in a death grip, showing strength she hadn't seen from him in hours. If he had been more alert, he never would have held her hand so hard. She could feel her bones rubbing together, and she could hear them cracking. It took almost a whole minute to get him on the stretcher, but they did it. Percy was shivering and sweating afterwards. His breathing was so shallow and fast, he was nearly hyperventilating. Annabeth swapped her hands in Percy's as Will and Leo walked Percy to the door of his cabin.

They laid the stretcher on the floor, and Chiron knelt down in the doorframe. Percy turned his head towards the doorway. He could probably feel the cool night air drifting in. Chiron's eyes had taken on a rare shine as he looked down at his dying student. But he said nothing as he placed his hand on Percy's chest and the other on his forehead. A pained look crossed his face as he concentrated, murmuring something in the ancient language of the Titans. It wasn't long before Percy's breathing evened out, and his body relaxed as the pain lifted. Chiron took his hand from Percy's chest and moved the other from Percy's forehead to his shoulder. "You are a great hero, Perseus Jackson. You have made me proud. Your deeds will not be forgotten, nor will your person. Be at peace, son of the sea."

Percy slowly reached for and grasped Chiron's arm. "I had…a great…teacher…Thanks."

Chiron gave Percy's shoulder a light squeeze. "It was my pleasure, Percy. You should get back to bed. Will you be okay if I speak with Annabeth for a moment?"

Percy mumbled a "yes" and let go of Chiron's arm and Annabeth's hand. Sally came over and stood beside the stretcher. "I'll help them, Chiron," she assured the centaur as she grabbed Percy's hand.

Chiron nodded, and Annabeth stepped out of the way while the boys lifted the stretcher and moved back to the bed where the other boys were already waiting to move Percy back onto the mattress. Chiron and Annabeth stepped back out of the cabin and down to the ground. "Now, here, my dear, let me see that hand," Chiron said when they had walked a couple of yards from the porch.

She stretched her right arm out to him. "How did you know?"

Chiron smiled thinly as he gently took her hand in both of his. "I saw you wince, and then I noticed how tight Percy was gripping. I imagine you've had enough nectar and ambrosia for the past twenty-four hours, so I thought I would help."

Annabeth's hand was engulfed in warmth, and she could feel the bones mending and going back into place. She looked up at Chiron's face. "I already know about the blindness and paralysis. What else has stopped working in him?"

A sad smile flitted across Chiron's face. "Nothing gets by you, Annabeth. It never has. You are right, of course. He is blind and paralyzed from the waist down. I suspect that the paralysis will get worse before he is gone. I think most of his digestive system has shut down: his kidneys and intestines for sure. His circulation is not good at all. I didn't look, but I imagine his feet are quite gone. His hand was colder than it should be, I noticed. He is able to hear and feel still. His heart is working much too hard, though, and his lungs not nearly enough. To be honest, I'm surprised he is still alive."

Annabeth took her now healed hand back, bowed her head, and took a shuddering breath. "How much longer, do you think?"

Chiron's front feet danced. "I do not know, Annabeth. As I said, by all rights, he should already be gone. My only advice is to cherish every minute. Right now, he's fighting to stay with you. I honestly do not think he is afraid to die, but he does not want to leave you or the others – you, especially. He cannot fight it forever, though. His time is short. Go be with him. You bring him a comfort that no one else can. He needs you, Annabeth."

Annabeth hugged her trainer, again. "Thank you, Chiron. Thank you for helping him."

Chiron hugged her tight. "I only wish I could have done more." He let go of her and wiped her tears like he did so many years ago when she had first come to camp and missed Thalia. "Now, go. Spend time with your husband."

Annabeth nodded and went back to the cabin. All of their closest friends were still on the porch, despite it being nearly eleven at night. Even Sam, Magnus, Sadie, and Carter had come back from the Big House to sit like sentries outside the cabin, giving honor to their friend. The vigil in the courtyard was still going. No one seemed to have returned to their cabins for sleep. The youngest campers and Hope were curled up asleep on a pallet by the hearth, but they were still there. They had been covered with extra blankets, and Lady Hestia had even set up a table with coffee, water, and hot chocolate for the demigods gathered. Annabeth knew that everyone would stay awake until Percy passed. They felt they owed him at least that much. She wondered if Percy sensed them. If he knew that he was surrounded by family, friends, admirers, even rivals who all respected him enough to stand watch as he passed from this world to the next. She didn't know what he was aware of, but she knew, and she would treasure it.

Yet, somehow, she knew they were there for her, too. They knew that her letting him go would be the hardest thing she had ever done, and they were supporting her. She felt tears well in her eyes for the hundredth time, but at the thought of their support, she straightened her back and held her head high. Percy was dying with all the dignity he could muster. Her friends – no, her family were standing vigil for him and her. She would walk into that cabin and be strong. She would hold her husband's hand as his soul entered the gates of the Underworld. She would see him out of this world, and she would be the one to tell the others. She could do that, and she would.

A/N: In the last chapter, I made a reference to a short story by Rick Riordan called "Percy Jackson and the Singer of Apollo." It's a funny Percy/Grover mini-quest from Percy's POV. It's in a collection of stories by a variety of authors called Guys Read: Other Worlds. Anyway, you can read Riordan's story for free at this site. www dot harpercollins dot com/web-sampler/9780061963803 (It won't save correctly if I just copy and paste the web address. So, you know add . where t says "dot" and cram it all together in one long string. Sorry for the trouble.)

Also, thanks for reading and for the reviews, favorites, and follows. And please leave a review. Also, yes, I think we all know what's coming, but hang in there for me. I think this story is worth finishing, and I like to think you'll agree if you'll stick it out.

Disclaimer: PJO, HOO, KC, and MCA are all owned by Rick Riordan.