Not mine
Chapter XVII: Sickness and Health
ANNABETH
When Annabeth awoke, her mouth was cottony and every part of her body was stiff. She stretched lazily, feeling like she was the tin man, moving for the first time after rusting over. Prompted by her stomach growling, she made her way to the kitchen, where something smelled good and she could hear voices.
"Hey Annabeth."
"Hi, Beth."
"Hi Hazel-" Annabeth cut off as she processed the other person who greeted her before letting out a strangulated, "Hi, Percy."
"How'd you sleep, Annabeth?"
"Good. I was so tired. What time is it, anyways?"
"Seven."
Annabeth frowned. "Percy, don't you have to be at work? Hazel, I know you don't start until eight, but-"
"Annabeth, you misunderstood. Percy didn't get over here until 3 AM. By the time he got you in bed, it was 4. It's 7 PM. You've slept for the last fifteen hours," Hazel said gently.
"Oh," Annabeth said. (I must have been more tired than I thought. That would explain why I felt so stiff this morning, though.)
"How are you feeling, Annabeth?"
"Kinda freaking out. I've never slept more than ten hours in a go, you know?"
"You were tired."
"No shit, Sherlock. Of course she was tired. She hasn't slept since Monday."
"You told me the night before last!"
"I thought it was, Percy! I wouldn't intentionally lie to you!"
"No, just have reckless disregard for your own health! You're going to work yourself into the ground!"
"No, I won't, because I am an adult, perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank you very much, your concern is not needed."
"Needing help doesn't make you any less of an adult, Annabeth. Or did you think less of me when my mom got hurt? As a Wise Girl once told me, 'You're not fine and you damn well know it. It's okay to not be fine. It's not okay to keep it all in.'" Percy said, his voice softening as he recalled what Annabeth had told him when his mom got hurt.
She just looked at him for a minute, feeling all the emotions raging in her, exhaustion, anguish, and stress, all threatening to overwhelm her. She swayed for a moment and then hugged Percy fiercely, holding back tears as best she could.
"You're right, Percy. Even if you are a Seaweed Brain."
"Awwww…" Came a voice from behind her. Annabeth flushed even more. She'd forgotten they had an audience. "Your first lovers' quarrel!"
(Oohh, now she's gonna get it. I can't believe Hazel, of all people, would say such a thing!)
Percy, just chuckled, however, and said, "Thanks, Hazel."
"IT WAS CUTE!"
"You still didn't need to commentate," retorted Annabeth sourly.
"YES I DID! IT WAS IRRESISTIBLE!"
"Now, don't talk back to your mother, Hazel," Percy said, sounding serious but grinning. Annabeth turned and smacked him lightly.
"Stop, it's not funny," she whined.
"Fine, just kill my fun," Percy pouted.
"Oh, look, sleeping beauty's awake. Did you have to kiss her, Percy?" Thalia asked to make her arrival known.
Annabeth just groaned. It was clearly going to be a long night.
"Alright, Thalia, you can lay off her now. She's had a rough enough couple of days as it is. No need to further tickle the dragon," Percy said sternly, like a father talking to an insolent child. (Wow, he'd make a really great disappointed dad, with that one.)
"Annabeth, you can study for no more than four hours tonight, then you're going to bed. You need to get back on a regular sleep schedule, and this is the fastest way to do it. Now, I'm going to get you some food, you're going to talk to your friends for a bit, and then you can study until midnight at the absolute latest," Percy said, turning his attention to Annabeth, "What do you want to eat?"
"Food?" Came the insolent reply.
"Funny," Percy said dryly, "I guess you're getting individual ingredients, then. Have fun eating your flour."
With that, Percy vanished into the kitchen area.
"So Annie, what did I just walk in on?"
"Didn't Percy just tell you not to mess with me?" Annabeth whined.
"The only Jackson I listen to is Sally," Retorted Thalia primly.
"You best listen to me, Grace! I can and will kick your ass if you keep annoying my- Annabeth!" Came a voice from the kitchen.
"Well, I'm going to ignore that interruption in so far as I'm not going to comply, but I will ask you, Annabeth, what do you think he was going to say after 'my'?" Thalia asked, cackling like the deranged witch Annabeth was beginning to suspect she was.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Annabeth replied, deciding to play dumb.
"You damn well do, and don't play dumb with me. You're one of the smartest people I know, so it won't work. So answer the question," Thalia demanded.
"Fine. Wife. Seems like the kind of joke he'd make. You know, that meme, 'That's my wife!' Seems like him."
"Huh. I thought he was going to say love, you know? Weird and vaguely archaic, sounds like my cousin, you know?"
"I resent that!"
"No one asked you, you dunderhead! Also, which one of us was right?"
"I won't dignify that question with an answer, you buffoon."
"Which means I was right and you were wrong, brain girl!"
Percy returned bearing some chicken tenders and veggies, saying, "Put a cork in it, Thalia. Neither Annabeth nor I much care for your antics."
"Thanks for making me dinner, Percy. I'm going to study a bit. I really appreciate all you've done for me today."
"Of course, Beth. Good night."
Annabeth walked down the hallway, listening to her friends rib Percy as she went.
A/N: Sorry I've been gone so long. It's been a busy time and I'll be honest I've lacked inspiration. Please read and review.
Very respectfully,
Charles Basilone