Wow! Since last night I had loads of story alerts etc and I really love you guys for it.

Me: Nico, Dewfrost314 said hi.

Nico: Oh, thanks. Hi Dewfrost314.

Me: I'm so happy with everyone!

On with the *sniffs* last chapter!

Chapter 9

The boat sped away faster than it ever went before. Nico was asleep, snoring loadly. I was in my right mind to punch him and shout at him to wake up, but I was far too nervous to do so. I was not at all tired, even though it was something like 3 o'clock in the morning. As we sped across the wide sea, I began to worry. What if we got it wrong? What if we only had 3 days to save Per-. What if we needed to do something else? What if we killed the wrong thing? Stop it, Annabeth. You got it all right.

I gazed out at the sea rushing by. I wished it would go faster. I wanted a rest before I set to work healing Percy.

"Annabeth! Annabeth." Nico was awake and calling me.

"What?" I said hotly. I was angry at him for having the nerve to fall asleep, then shout at me like I was going to die!

"Oh, what's up?"

Okay, I lost it. But I couldn't believe he was being so thick!

"What do you mean 'What's up'? You think everything is fine and dandy? You think that, just because half the quest is over I'm going to be fine! Well you've got another think coming! You have no idea how I feel, do you?-"

"Annabeth, look, what have I done? I helped you kill the Minotaur and I've been here for you the whole journey! I don't get you, Annabeth. Not at all."

I crumpled onto the seat and cryed. I hated crying but I couldn't help it. Everything seamed so close, and yet so far. For the first time since I left camp, I worried myself with a horrible thought. I couldn't keep it inside so I said it outload to Nico:

"H-h-how w-will I heal him?" I stuttered out. I cryed harder and I saw Nico sit down next to me. I felt his arm slink round my shoulders. Usually I would shrug him off but this time I was glad to have some comfort of some sort. Even if it was from the son of Hades.

"Ssshh, it's okay. We've done all we need to do. It's out of our hands now."

"B-b-but I..."

"What? You what?"

"I-I c-c-can't fail." I sniffed hard and for a moment all was silent. Then I started crying again.

"Look at me." I raised my head in his direction.

"You where amazing. You have done everything you needed to and you have not failed." Nico was trying, he was, and I knew that but it wasn't working.

"... H-how do you kn-now for sure?" There was a long pause. Then I looked away and sniffed a few times.

"We're almost there. I want you to know that I'm not gonna be there for the healing." I nodded.

"Stop crying. You don't need to worry. I'll get in contact later if you want."

"Yeah, okay." I calmed my crying down to a soft sob. I had to look reasonable when I arrived at camp incase the guy on duty saw me. I didn't want to look weak infront of my friends. Although, I already had made myself look weak when I first saw Percy. He looked so awful. Not how I remembered him. I couldn't wait to see him with his stupid wide grin and his amazing eyes. His eyes. I missed them the most. All of the sea, trapped in his eyes for everyone to admire.

I guess I smiled whilst I was imagining because Nico said I looked good with a smile.

"Thanks. I'm just imagining."

"Imagining what exactly?"

"None of your business!" Although I smiled at him to show I was joking. He smiled back then looked away.

"Long Island." I pointed and sighed. We had arrived.

"I'm not walking in with you okay? I've got stuff to see to with my Dad." He gave me a knowing look to say that it was to do with keeping the Minotaur in Hell for all time.

"It's not possible. But thanks for trying. If he's just there untill Percy's better. I'll battle him as many times as I need to but Percy needs my attention untill he's okay."

"Yeah, I think that Dad will alow that much. He's not all bad, you know." The boat stopped at the shore and we climbed out.

"I'll see you then, Nico. Thanks, I guess. I never expected you to help with Percy."

"He's a good guy I suppose. Bianca contacted me after my talk with his dad and she asked me-well, kinda told me- to save him. I was going to any way."

"Yeah, well, thanks alright? Posiedon was right you know. He told me that both of us had to work together to kill the minotaur and he was right. You. We needed you. The son of one of the big three. I guess Thalia could have done it but I think Posiedon felt more trust in another man. Me. Well, Percy slayed the Minotaur the first time out of love. He had to save his Mum and Grover. I, I had to save him. It was love and power that killed the Minotaur both times."

"How the heck did you work that out?"

"I don't know. I just realised all of a sudden when I was killing the Minotaur."

"I've gotta go. Good luck."

"Thanks. See you later." He dissolved into the sadows and I figured he was off to the Underworld.

Camp Half-Blood. My home. The only place where I am truly safe. I ran for it.

"Annabeth?" A figure moved into view.

"Chiron? Why are you out here?"

"My dear, I've been waiting for you for hours."

"Why?... Wat's happened?"

"... follow me." Once he had moved into the light I saw the worry in his eyes. We walked towards the infirmary at aquick pace.

"Annabeth? You're back! Thank the Gods!" Ellie ran towards me and tackled me with a fierce hug. I hugged her back and looked over her shoulder to see that Grover and Thalia had stayed true to their words. They sat on little wooden chairs next to Percy's bed. They didn't look up untill I called them.

"Guys?"

"Hi, Annabeth." Grover said. I studied him and Thalia with wide eyes. They were not at all excited to see me. I stepped forward to get a closer view of them and I looked down at Percy. I suddenly realised why niether of them seamed incredibley happy about seeing me. We all had far bigger worrys about a certain black-haired boy who looked like he was going to die any second...

WOW! Finally! I got you though didn't I? You actually thought that that was the last chapter! HA HA! Suckers.

Nico: You're offending our readers... especially Dewfrost314 who actually said hi to me!

Me: You're protective over our readers, aren't you? It'swierd because you used to-

Nico: Shut up!

Me: I don't get you.

Nico: I'm glad.

Thanks for being amazing, suckers! (You knw I'm joking, don't you? You're all so cool. :D)

REVIEW, YOU AMAZING PEANUTS!

R&R! R&R! R&R!