Sorry about the wait for this chapter but if you follow me on tumblr you know I had some important stuff going on. I'm a little slammed with school and life right now but I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can.
The story is coming to an end and there will only be a couple more chapters. Thank you to everyone who's followed this madness and to everyone who's left a review I really appreciate it.
A special thanks to my beta Hannah (ananbeth tumblr bananaman48 here on FF) and dealing with my lazy and sometimes horrible chapters. This story wouldn't be what it is without her help and dedication to push me to do better. You're wonderful, ham.
Before the elevator doors have finished opening Annabeth shoves her way through and steps out into the hall. She follows the directions the nurse she'd grabbed on the first floor had given her, turning right and running down the hall. A few people in scrubs are milling about and she knocks into them in her rush, not bothering to apologize or explain. They're in a hospital and she's running, that should be enough for them to piece it together. Annabeth counts off the doors as she goes by, each one bringing her closer to Percy's room.
There's still two rooms left when she spots the woman standing outside the door that should lead to Percy's room. Her brown hair is a mess, her face etched with worry, and she wrings her hands together. Annabeth slows from her run to a jog, then to walk, then to a standstill several feet from the woman who's too lost in thought to notice her.
"Are- are you Sally?" Annabeth hears her voice, strained and tight but can't believe she's actually speaking.
The woman's head snaps up, eyes locking on her. "Annabeth?" she asks, voice low and raw.
Annabeth swallows and nods, her eyes flicking to the door just behind Percy's mother.
"Oh thank goodness," Sally lurches forwards, wrapping Annabeth in a hug before she can move. "He's okay. He scared us but he's okay."
Relief slams into her like a freight train. Since the moment she got the call Annabeth had been in fight-or-flight mode, adrenaline pumping through her system until it feels like her nerves could snap. Now it's washed away by the fact Percy is okay, Annabeth sinks into Sally's embrace.
"What happened? What have the doctors said? What happens next?" The questions tumble out of Annabeth's mouth, her brain demanding new information.
"Part of a building collapsed while he was inside. Nothing big hit him but he inhaled a lot of smoke. He'll have to spend the night at least, but he might be able to go home tomorrow. And for now, we wait." Sally answers each question in a calm soothing voice, as if Annabeth is her child and needs to be talked down after a nightmare. At least part of that is true.
"Can- can I see him?" Annabeth asks nervously, not knowing if Sally has even gotten to see her son and unsure of the protocol for talking to your new boyfriend's mom, who you've just met, as said boyfriend lays in a hospital bed.
Sally breaks the hug, taking a second to look Annabeth in the eyes. "Of course. He's resting right now, but you can go in."
Barely able to hold back the tears Annabeth nods, too much has already happened in too short a time. A few hours ago she was fighting with her best friend, now she's waiting to see her hospitalized boyfriend.
Sally steps out of her way, letting Annabeth push the door open gently and peer into the room. A benefit of being one of New York's finest is apparently getting a private hospital room. It's not huge by any means, the white walls and fluorescent lighting making the room feel empty and sterile. Annabeth closes the door slowly behind her, wincing as the latch clicks into place harshly and the noise is amplified by the bare room. She turns to watch Percy for any signs she's disturbed him but he's perfectly still, tucked into the white hospital bed with monitors beeping softly behind him.
For a second Annabeth wants to run, wants to flee from the room and not accept that Percy is lying here almost lifeless in a cold blank room. Guilt ripples through her immediately, she should be here for him but she can't help the itch under her skin telling her to bail. Being closed off and distant is easy, it's normal, it's what she's good at, and this is why. The truth is she's in love with an idiot who couldn't pick a sensible, stable job, and instead rushes into burning buildings to pull people out. He puts his life in danger every day and this is the expected outcome, the truth registers inside of her that staying with him means she'll be here again some day. It also tells her that he might not be as lucky next time.
That's not something she wants to accept, to even imagine. Somehow in the past few months Percy has become a distinct force in her life. He challenges and pushes her, even if she doesn't always appreciate it. Percy is good for her, he's her sounding board, her support system, her comfort. He reminds her that work should stay at work and not come home, that there can be more to her life and legacy than the buildings she creates. That she can build something permanent right here, with him.
Annabeth sinks into the thinly padded chair next to his bed and stares at him. Everything from the past few days suddenly pressing down on her and demanding to be felt. Almost losing Percy and Piper because of her pride, telling Percy she loved him, making up with Piper, and finally almost losing Percy because of things she can't control. The strain is too much and she breaks. Annabeth buries her face in her hands, her elbows propped up on her thighs, and cries. Soft broken sobs she tries to muffle so Percy won't hear, won't see, won't be disturbed by the fact she can't handle her emotions.
The tears run down her face, pooling in her hands before running down her arms. Annabeth cries until she's out of breath, gasping quietly for air between chest crushing sobs. The door clicks open and the quiet of the room is shattered by the sound of activity before going silent again as the door closes. Annabeth rushes to scrub her face clean, resetting her face to only slightly worried.
An arm wraps around her shoulders and Sally crouches in front of her, ducking down enough to catch Annabeth's gaze.
"The first time I got a call from the hospital I thought I was going to have a heart attack. It wasn't anything bad, a few stitches from some broken glass while pulling someone out of a car but it nearly killed me. I didn't sleep for days after. Every time the phone rang I jumped, I started to tear up, I panicked. Percy doesn't get it because it's his job. He's never really thought about what could happen, but I do," Sally says, voice wobbling slightly. "I never stop thinking about it." Tears glisten in the corner of her eyes.
"I love that boy, but someday he's going to be the death of me." Sally isn't able to hold back her tears any longer and they start to break free, running down her face and she hurries to brush them away.
Annabeth hugs Sally this time, locking her arms around the woman's neck and burying her face in Sally's shoulder. The both cry, trying to deal with an outcome that might never happen or could happen tomorrow. They hold each other for a while, finding comfort in their shared fears and concern for Percy. Slowly Annabeth breaks the hug, leaning back into her chair.
"I'm glad he has you," Sally says, voice thick with emotion. " You know he's changed since you met him, for the better. I think he's even being safer now."
"He better be," Annabeth says with a forced laugh. "I'll hurt him if he's not."
Sally laughs, the sound warm and soothing. The weight on Annabeth's shoulders lifts slightly.
"I'm glad I have him too," Annabeth adds softly and Sally grins.
"Hey," Percy's voice disturbs the moment. "Are you two okay?"
They both turn to look at him, Annabeth's heart somehow surging and plummeting at the same time. She's relieved that he's awake and talking, but he looks exhausted and his face seems paler. Her first instinct is to hug him, but there's a part of her that wants to chew him out for this. She decides that can wait until he's on his feet and it's a fair fight.
"You're the one in the hospital bed, you tell me," Annabeth says pointedly.
"Me? I'm fine. I don't even know why they're keeping me overnight." Percy brushes off their concern, treating his condition as something less than a minor cold.
"Probably because you came in unconscious and with more smoke in you than a chimney," Sally says chidingly and stands.
Annabeth spots Sally's hand reach out and take Percy's even as she stares him down.
"And you scared the hell out of us. The first time I meet your mom and it's in the hospital," Annabeth adds.
"Hey, the two of you can't team up against me. I mean I'm laying here in a hospital bed," Percy says defensively.
"I thought you were fine and ready to go home," Annabeth says, leaning forward in her chair.
"Well, that's not- I don't like this," Percy grumbles, fidgeting in his bed.
"Too bad, I have backup now and you're not getting out of anything," Sally says firmly, turning to Annabeth to give her a nod.
"I guess that means you like her." Percy raises his eyebrow and cracks a slight smile.
"It means I think you're an incredibly lucky that she puts up with you." Sally redirects the conversation slightly.
"You're not the only one," Percy says, sitting up a little and turning to Annabeth who can't help the slight blush in her cheeks.
"You bailed on me," Annabeth blurts, trying to get the conversation to a new topic. "I had to talk to Piper alone."
"You got me," Percy says dramatically, eyebrows raised and eyes wide. "I staged all of this just to avoid that." He waves his hand that's not hooked up with wires around.
Sally sighs and stands, "I'll let you two have some time to yourselves. I need to call Paul anyways." Sally leans over and gives her son a kiss on the forehead before giving Annabeth a smile and slipping out of the room.
"How'd it go by the way?" Percy asks nervously. "Talking with Piper?"
"I think she expects us to name our first kid after her. Maybe the second one too." Percy laughs, then winces. "You deserved that," Annabeth says cooly.
"What? How did I deserve that? I'm in pain, Annabeth." Percy lets his head flop back onto the pillow, pulling out his baby seal eyes.
"Because you scared the shit out of me. Because I thought you had been hurt. Because I was afraid I was going to lose you again." Annabeth keeps her voice strong, refusing to let the fear get to her again.
"I'm sorry," he says softly. "But I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here, okay?"
Annabeth nods stiffly, tears threatening to break loose again. Percy holds out his hand and Annabeth takes it, he pulls her until she's sitting on the bed next to him and he wraps an arm around her waist.
"You know, I could use a sponge bath," he says with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Which of your ribs hurt again?" Annabeth asks gently.
When Percy points to them, Annabeth reaches out and flicks him lightly. She smiles as he yelps.
"Okay, okay. No sponge baths. Geesh," Percy says, gently rubbing his side.
"You should stay with someone for a few days though. Just to make sure you're okay. Longer if need be." Annabeth watches him as she speaks, seeing him process the words.
"Are you asking me to move in with you? Or are you telling me I should move back in with my mom?"
Annabeth moves her hand to flick him again, "With you! got it!' Percy shouts, inching away from her.
"Would you be okay with that?"
"I'm sorry, did you just ask if I'd be okay living with my incredibly gorgeous girlfriend and spending every night curled up with her? Maybe you need to see a doctor." Percy smiles at her.
"Hmm, close. But you'll be sleeping on the couch," Annabeth says and gives him a quick kiss as he pouts.
"Ha, ha," Percy grumbles. "Are you sure though? I mean this is kind of a big deal."
"I don't want to lose you, Percy," Annabeth says seriously. "I thought-" she takes a deep breath. "I thought I'd lost you, lost my future, lost everything. I know it's quick but I don't care, I'm not letting you get away again."
Percy grins at her, squeezing his arm tighter around her. "I'm never letting you go. Never," he says adamantly.
Annabeth leans onto the bed beside him and curls herself against him. The smell of smoke still clings to him and mixes with his normal smell of deodorant and the ocean.
"So, should we tell my mom I tricked you into letting me move in with you?"
"Let's wait until we're out of the hospital, how about that?" Annabeth offers.
"Yeah, good idea." Percy nods. "So we're going to have to move my stuff."
"Or we could throw it all away," Annabeth counters.
"Hey, my stuff isn't that bad!" Percy complains.
"Your couch has more lumps than I can count."
"Each more comfortable than the last," Percy says defensively.
"We're throwing it out," she says firmly.
"We'll talk about it."
"We'll talk about throwing it out."
Percy laughs and Annabeth turns to look at him, her brow furrowing.
"What?" she demands.
"Nothing," he says with a shake of his head. "I just love you."
"I love you too," Annabeth says, placing her head on his chest. "But next time you scare me like this I'll kill you."
"Fair enough," he laughs.