A/N: Surprise bitch, I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me.
I'm here again. Don't yell at me, I'm a senior in highschool and I'll probably cry. College apps are killing me, and so is AP Calc. I'm here tho and that's what matters. Don't expect this updating shite to happen often lol.
Thank you (and congrats) to my awesome beta Cipher032! You're a fine lad.
As always, if you recognise it, it's not mine.
It's funny how the mind works.
Usually Annabeth's is running at a million miles per hour, but now it's in a daze. It processes things in lists- Annabeth had always been good at lists.
Goodbye. Taxi. Airport. Plane. Airport. Taxi.
Hello.
;;;
It was Christmas.
It was apparent by the carolers at the hospital. Annabeth had never been at a hospital for Christmas, but she supposed this was of the ordinary.
Annabeth also supposed it was sad that the receptionist working at the front desk recognised her. She held out a visitor pass.
"Visiting hours are over at ten." she said. Annabeth nodded. "Merry Christmas."
Hospitals had never scared Annabeth before, but here she was feeling scared. And happy. And nervous. And excited. And sick.
She leaned against the elevator wall to catch her breath. She closed her eyes.
She's awake.
This is was Annabeth had wanted for years. She still wanted it, of course. But a part of her couldn't help but wonder...would it be the same Thalia she knew who was awake in that hospital room? Was she the same Annabeth?
Annabeth forced her breath out. In. Out. In. Out.
The elevator dinged. Annabeth stepped out.
In. Out. In. Out.
Room number…
There it was. She put her hand on the door.
In. Out. In. Out.
The door swung out. Annabeth stepped back to avoid being hit.
"Oh..Annabeth. Um-" Luke stood in the doorway. He held open the door. "Here."
She pushed past him and into the crowded room, barely recognising the fact that he was there.
"Annabeth," Thalia's father started.
"Annabeth?" Jason asked.
"Annabeth." Thalia murmured.
"Thalia."
Her hair was messy. Her hair had usually been messy, but this looked much less intentional. Annabeth could hear every breath she took, long and dragged out like it took effort. Her eyes were blurry and tired. But they were open.
Thalia reached her hand out for Annabeth. The IV's cord clattered against the timer on her wrist. Annabeth went to join her.
"Careful." Zeus said, putting his hand on Annabeth's shoulder. "She's delicate."
Thalia had barely enough energy to stay awake, nonetheless she used it to glare at her father.
Annabeth felt a sob choke out of her. She couldn't believe this was real. She had imagined this so many times in so many ways. It felt like too much of a dream.
"Annabeth, you look so much older. You look so grown up." Thalia rasped.
"I know." Annabeth wept. "It's been so long. I have so much to tell you."
"Is it Christmas?" Thalia asked blurrily, dazed eyes sweeping around to the decorations around the room.
Annabeth sniffed and wiped a tear from her cheek.
"It is, Thalia." Jason said.
"Merry Christmas." She whispered.
;;;
"Here." Jason said, holding out a cup of coffee. Thalia had fallen asleep, and while Annabeth would have been content waiting in the room for her to wake up, Zeus told her and Jason to wait in the waiting room. Luke, who had apparently been one of the first to show up, had already left, after much pleading from Thalia's father for him to look after himself and a promise that he could visit later. Annabeth supposed she would feel thankful later for not having to deal with him, but for now she was too tired to spend any of her little remaining energy on thoughts of her ex. She could only focus on Thalia, and on the cup of coffee Jason was handing her.
"Thanks," Annabeth said, taking it and wrapping her fingers around it.
"I didn't know you knew Thalia." Jason said.
"I didn't know you did." Annabeth responded. She didn't know Jason very well, despite his being her best friend's boyfriend and her having hung out with him a few times.
"I'm actually her brother." He said.
Annabeth was too emotionally exhausted to feel surprised. "I didn't know Thalia had a brother."
"Yeah, neither did I until about a year ago. I'd lived with dad when I was younger, but then all of the sudden I had to go live at a boarding school. I guess that was around the time…"
"Yeah."
"Anyways, dad reached out about a year ago, telling me I had a sister who was in the hospital. It was like that Lindsay Lohan movie where she finds out she has a twin-"
"Parent Trap?"
"Yeah, exactly. Besides the, y'know, Parent Trap part. And the twin part. She's a few years older than me." Jason took a sip of his coffee and nodded at her. "Your turn."
"We were friends. Are friends. Luke, Thalia and I. Practically inseparable. It was pretty tough when she..."
"Yeah." Jason paused. "Small world." He quietly remarked. Annabeth somberly nodded in agreement.
Annabeth took a sip of her coffee and wrinkled her nose. She'd never liked coffee, but hospital coffee was a hundred times worse.
Jason chuckled. "Yeah, it's pretty nasty. It's better than nothing though."
Annabeth shrugged and put her cup down. She took out her phone. Dead.
"Do you have a charger I could use?" She asked.
"What kind of phone do you have?"
"Samsung."
Jason shook his head. "I've got an iPhone. But I'm sure they have a ton of them at the front desk."
Annabeth nodded and got up. She walked to the front desk. "Do you have a charger for a Samsung?" She asked the receptionist, a pretty young woman with short hair.
The receptionist nodded. She gave Annabeth a cardboard box filled with cords. "Here's the box of forgotten chargers. Feel free to rummage." Annabeth moved to the side and began digging through it.
A nurse came through the doors from Thalia's ward and settled next to the receptionist. "Hey Jen." She whispered.
"Hey Lacy." The receptionist whispered back. She glanced towards Annabeth and then lowered her voice. "I heard that girl woke up. The one who's been under for years."
"Oh yeah, it's totally emotional." Lacy shared.
"That's like, crazy though." Jen added. Annabeth started rummaging faster. She didn't want to hear this right now. It seemed wrong. What did these two women know? She couldn't understand how people could gossip about something like this. How could they talk about Thalia like it didn't matter, like it didn't hurt people?
"Oh totally, it was some like, experimental operation."
That peaked Annabeth's interest. Maybe she could learn more about this emergency operation from these two employees. She slowed down her rummaging, turning her head so she could secretly listen.
"Didn't she cut out her timer? I didn't even know you could do that." Jen said.
"Yeah, well, you're not supposed to. That's why when you cut it out it releases this...stuff? Nobody really knows what it is besides the company, but it's not harmful. I mean, it just creates this sort of medically induced coma."
"Wait, so if you try to take it out it puts you in a coma?" Jen asked, eyes wide. "Doesn't that seem a little," she lowered her voice even more, "dystopian?"
"Well what's the alternative? Them living without one? Plus, like I said, it's not harmful. It just keeps people from dying when it's not their time." Lacy explained.
"I guess so." Jen conceded. "So what did they do?"
"They gave her a new timer and gave her this medicine that negates the effects of the coma inducer. I mean, that's what I guess. They don't really tell me much. It's all very secret." Lacy giggled.
"Oh, I won't tell anyone." Jen winked, covering her mouth with her hand to stop from laughing. "It's wild that they can do it. Create new timers."
"I'm not really sure if they create a new one. I think they might just make a copy of the old one. It's all the same information, obviously." Jen said.
"Uhg, this stuff is so confusing. Thank god for them though, right?"
"Right."
Easy for them to say, Annabeth thought.
A doctor came out of the coma ward. "Nurse Kupelian, break's over."
Lacy sighed. "That's me. See ya later."
Jen waved. "Later."
Annabeth fetched a charger. "Here." She gave the box to Jen.
"Mmhmm," Jen said, taking the box back without even looking at Annabeth.
Annabeth walked back to her seat in a daze. The nurse was right, it is confusing. Annabeth may not have understood exactly how they brought her back, but she did understand that Thalia was awake, the timer was back, and she would not be happy.
"Everything good?" Jason asked. Annabeth shrugged.
Jason sighed, his shoulders drooping with exhaustion. "Yeah, me too."
;;;
They made Annabeth go home. Or at least to one form of it.
Because Annabeth's only family currently living in New York City was her mother, Annabeth took herself to her apartment. She reached over the door to get the key, letting herself in. Her mum wouldn't be there because she was spending her vacation in Greece. She supposed it was a blessing in disguise. Ever since Annabeth had decided to reunite with her father, her mum had been...chilly with her. Athena got that way sometimes. She was the type of parent who only liked to parent when it was convenient for her.
Annabeth collapsed on the couch. She turned on the TV, not to watch it, but just to fill the deafening silence. Her focus turned halfheartedly to her phone. She had been purposely neglecting it, hoping that maybe if she didn't respond to any of her messages, or open any of her emails, then she wouldn't have to face any other realities than the one she was facing now. She wasn't sure how much more she could take.
But, as always, the notifications nagged her. She clicked on her emails first.
To: Annabeth Chase
From: Frederick Chase
Subject: How are you?
Hello Annabeth and Merry Christmas, from all of us. I hope that everything is going okay with your friend. I'm not exactly sure what is going on, but you have our support all the way. Good luck with everything,
Isi
PS. You are welcome back any time
Annabeth regretted the fact that her vacation was cut so short. She would have liked to spend more time with Bobby and Matthew. She still wasn't quite sure about her father...
She made a mental note to respond later when she felt more together. She then deleted some spam emails. Clicking on her messages she winced. 20 unread.
Piper: Merry Christmas! 3
Piper: Oh timezones, weird
Piper: Hey is everything okay
Piper: Jason told me his sister just woke up from a coma
Piper: you have a friend nmaed thalia in a coma right
Piper: Annabeth?
Piper: let me know if youre ok
Piper: im here for you
Annabeth hurried to type response.
Annabeth: merry christmas
Annabeth: yeah its my thalia
Annabeth: im okay for now
Annabeth: mostly
Annabeth: ill keep you updated
Annabeth assumed Piper would be asleep considering it was, oh fuck, three in the morning. She moved on to the next texts.
Nico: mery christmas
Nico: i got your number from will
Nico: wanna talk?
Annabeth wasn't sure what Nico would want to talk about, besides her own timer mishaps, which was a subject she rather not broach anytime soon (although she knew time would force her to, or the lack of).
Annabeth: merry christmas
Annabeth: maybe wanna talk once school starts back up
Now onto the next texts. Annabeth really should go to sleep.
Leo: Merry X-mas! I've got your gift that I didnt give you before!
Leo: Hey, jason's been acting kinda weird and now i cant reach him
Leo: do you kno where he is
Annabeth: merry christmas
Annabeth paused. Should she explain Thalia to Leo, or let Jason do it?
Annabeth: you should probably ask jason
Concerningly, Leo responded right away.
Leo: oh
Leo: k
Annabeth felt like there might be something to unpack behind that answer, but she was tired and she only had messages from two more people.
Hazel: Merry Christmas, and if I don't see you, Happy New year!
Annabeth: Merry christmas and happy new year :)
Annabeth added a smiley face. Hazel's sweet enthusiasm seemed to warrant it.
Last person.
Percy: Merry Christmas, Annabae
Percy: I want you know know I called you that on purpose to annoy you
Percy: I hope things are still going well with your dad
Percy: I just realized it's probably a weird time for you
Percy: I'll leave you a waking up gift 3
Percy had attached a picture of himself, a badly taken selfie (although it didn't make him look any less attractive). In the background, Annabeth could recognise a christmas tree with an unusually large amount of blue ornaments on it. Despite herself, she cracked a smile.
Annabeth: Happy christmas and f you
Annabeth: things went well
Annabeth: Im in ny
Annabeth: ill explain later
Annabeth closed her phone and messily put the charger in. She fell asleep on the couch, to the sounds of Hallmark Christmas reruns.
;;;
Annabeth woke up to sunlight streaming over her face. She groaned and turned over, pulling her pillow over her face. She'd had the weirdest dream…
Thalia, and Jason, and…
Shit.
Annabeth sat up, nearly tumbling off the couch. She looked around. She'd forgotten she was here, in this appartement and in New York. The TV was still on from last night, playing quietly what seemed like the same Christmas movie from last night (but wasn't the main character blonde?). Annabeth checked her phone. Ten am.
Shit.
I need to get to the hospital, Annabeth thought, not moving. "I need to get to the hospital," she repeated out loud, because sometimes that worked better. She pushed herself from the comfort of the couch cushions and stood up, stretching out the crooks in her neck. She rushed to change her shirt (should she change her jeans? ...no) and pull over a sweater. She didn't have time to brush through her messy hair, so she just shoved it into a low ponytail. She grabbed a banana from her mother's bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter and grabbed her phone and keys before leaving the appartement, making sure to lock the door behind her.
"Lower Manhattan Hospital." She told the taxi driver, nearly throwing herself into the back seat. She scarfed down her banana as she swiped away at her notifications instead of replying to them.
New York traffic was not on her side, especially New York holiday traffic, so enough time to pointedly not think about every conflicting emotion swirling around in her head, and plenty of time to think about how she left her wallet at home (she could visualize it sitting innocently on the couch) and then panic because fuck how will I pay for this taxi.
"Hey, do you want emergency or…" The cab driver asked her. Annabeth looked up from where she was focusing on the hangnails on her fingers.
"No, uh, just the main building will be fine." She said. The driver grunted and turned the corner.
"Here you go." He said. Annabeth tried to not look like she was considering running for it. Thankfully she spotted someone familiar as soon as the cab pulled up. Well, thankfully might not be the right word.
"Luke!" She called, stepping out of the car. Luke looked up from where he was focusing on his phone. When he saw who it was, a pained expression briefly flashed across his face before it was replaced by careful neutrality.
"Annabeth." He said. The he looked at the cab driver, who was impatiently glaring at Annabeth. "Need any help…?"
"Actually, that would be great." Annabeth said. She had left her pride on the couch in her mum's appartement too.
Luke fished out fifteen bucks and handed it to the driver. "Keep the change."
They walked into the hospital together. Annabeth wasn't really sure what would be more awkward- walking in silence or trying to make small talk. She opted for the first one. She was still upset about what he had done (and rightly so, if she did say so herself).
Unfortunately, Luke had other ideas.
"So, Annie, how've you been?"
"I wish you wouldn't call me that." she grumbled. He looked at her expectantly. "Fine," she lied. "I've been fine."
Luke nodded. After a pause, he asked "Aren't you going to ask how I am?"
He got into the elevator and held the door open for her.
"No, I'm not." Now that she thought about it, she wasn't just upset, she was angry.
Luke sighed. "Well, I've been in London working on that report. Remember the one I told you about?"
"No."
They got off the elevator and walked down the hallway. Annabeth tried to widen her steps to get to the room faster. She didn't want to talk to him, she didn't want to see him, she didn't want to think about him. Before she reached the door, Luke grabbed her wrist. Annabeth recoiled and tried to tear it away.
"Woah, calm down." Luke said, agreeable expression still plastered on his face. He turned her wrist over, to look at where her timer was covered with a bandaid (she's started doing that once it started acting up). "You didn't use to cover up." he said.
"Things change." Annabeth said harshly and tried to yank her wrist away again. Luke easily dropped it. When he looked at her incesed expression, his eyes turned cold and his face turned to stone.
"Look Annabeth, enough with the pleasantries. You might be all up in hysterics about… what went down between us, but you're going to need to mature a whole lot. I'm here for Thalia, and you're not going to get rid of me, so you better deal with it." He jutted out his chin. Annabeth really wanted to hit him. "Got it?" he said with a smug superiority. She tried to move past him, but he held her shoulder to prevent her going past.
God, she wanted to hit him. She wouldn't though. He wasn't worth the energy. "Move." was all she said as she tried to move past him again.
"Look, Annabeth," he lowered his voice to a vicious whisper. "I get that you hate me and all, but-"
That's it. "Luke," she said at full volume, "Hate is too strong an emotion to be wasted on you."
In the moment it took for him to process that, just for spite, she grabbed the hand he held at her shoulder by the wrist and twisted before walking past him and into the room.
"Ow, FUC-" The door closed and his swears were drowned out behind her.
Annabeth immediately felt like she walked into something. Thalia's dad was standing over the bed, red in the face, looking accusingly at Annabeth, while Thalia was seated up on the bed with her arms crossed, pointedly not looking at anything.
"Should I come back later?" She asked, looking between them.
"No," Zeus snapped. "We're done here anyways." He quickly left, stopping only briefly when he saw Luke waiting behind the door. Thalia flipped off his back.
"Luke!" Thalia called.
"Yeah?" Luke asked, coming into the room.
"Could you leave Annabeth and I alone for a bit? Maybe watch my dad?" Thalia asked. Luke shot a glare at Annabeth.
"Sure." he said, before leaving and jogging to catch up with Mr. Grace.
"Annabeth," Thalia sighed in a small, tired voice. Annabeth pulled one of the chairs up next to Thalia's bed.
"Is everything okay, Your dad seemed pretty-"
"It's fine. I don't want to think about that." Thalia scowled. Annabeth noticed her hand absentmindedly scratching around her timer.
"How are you doing?" Annabeth asked.
"Oh jeez, stop that. Everyone's constantly asking me 'how're you doing' in the most annoyingly concerned voice ever. I'm so tired of that shit; let's get into the meaty stuff. What have I missed?"
"Um-"
"Like, who's the president now? Finally a woman?"
"No, it's-"
"Of course it isn't, we still have these fuckers," she said, tapping her new timer.
"What-"
"What about you, what's happened to you? Do you go to school in NYC or…" Thalia dissolved into a fit of coughing. Annabeth offered her a tissue.
"I go to school in Massachusetts. Thalia, are you sure you're okay?" Annabeth asked, her eyebrows drawing together in concern.
"I'm fine, I was just talking too fast." Thalia said in a hoarse voice. She coughed once more before continuing in a teasing voice. "You haven't replaced me have you?"
Annabeth smiled awkwardly. "No, of course not."
"Good." Thalia rasped. "Could you get me a cup of water. My throat is really dry."
Annabeth nodded. "Sure, I'll be right back."
As she was about to leave the room, Thalia called after her. "And could you get Luke... I wanna talk to him."
Annabeth nodded. She let the door close behind her and sighed. She knew that this would be a hectic time for Thalia, and for everyone around her, but she wished they could sit down together and have a real conversation. She knew Thalia was going to be the same as always, but over these past few years, Annabeth had changed so much.
She wondered if they would even be able to anymore.
A/N: There ya go. Very dramatic, and it's only going to get worse. Within the next, say, five chapters, you should read the author's notes for trigger warnings. I'm going to try not to be too graphic, and to make the part short, but be warned. If you want you can slide into my PMs to guess what will happen, or just send me something nice. As always, faves and follows are appreciates, comments are loved (I need validation, please).
- skulls