So, I've been going back and forth about if I should publish this chapter today or not- because on one hand, I do enjoy being an evil bitch and making you all wait to find out what's up with our favorite Seaweed brain, on the other hand- you poor poor people are gonna be suffering enough soon enough. Also- there is going to be some stuff coming up that will be hard for some people to read- do people think I need to put trigger warnings in so that people can be warned in advance or do you guys think it should be okay? Also, more angst this chapter I'm afraid, I do hope you guys enjoy.

Annabeth and Rachel had stayed the night. Neither of them had been up for a journey to camp so soon- they'd have to go and tell everyone what had happened in person- there was no question of just Iris messaging Chiron.

And there was also no question at all of Rachel not coming with them.

The two girls had slept in Percy's room, though slept probably wasn't the right word, they'd ended up sat on either side of Percy's big bed, Annabeth wearing
a set of Percy's pajamas and Rachel wearing one of Percy's hoodies.

There had been a lot of silence at first, before Annabeth had spoken up, her voice still hoarse and cracking from her breakdowns and the screaming earlier in the day.

"I'm sorry."

"I know."

"I was horrible about you."

"I know."

"You love her too. Don't you?"

And there was a longer beat of silence at that question before Rachel answered, her eyes cast downwards. "She never even considered it." her voice was soft.
"She was head over heels in love with you- like, I don't think she'd ever look at anyone else. I know that. But yeah. Yeah I do."

"I don't blame you."

"I knew her life was dangerous." Rachel whispered the words, "I knew it. But. I don't know. I don't think I ever imagined this. I don't know how I saw it but I
knew it was real. I was so scared and I knew I couldn't do anything to save her and it hurts."

"I tried to go back."

"I know."

"Do you think it'll ever stop hurting?"

"I don't know." Rachel wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve, sniffling and snuggling further into the baggy hoodie- Percy always had liked them oversized. "I hate it though. And I didn't know her as long as you did. You probably knew her so much better than me."

"Yeah. And I left her to die."

"I don't believe that." Rachel sniffled, "I don't. The way she talked when she talked about you- you wouldn't have just ran away and left her to die."

"She told me she had a plan- I thought- and Leo- I promised to get Leo out and... and I broke my promise and now they're both dead and I can't say sorry." Annabeth was crying- and the loud broken sobs might have been better than the silent tears that rolled down her cheeks, she could no more stop them than she could bring Percy back.

And Rachel shifted, crawling across the bed and shifting so that she was sat next to Annabeth, both of their backs against the head rest- and after a moment of hesitation the clear sighted mortal wrapped an arm over Annabeth's shoulder- and Annabeth leaned into Rachel's side, just letting the tears flow as she rested her head on the other girls shoulder.

"It wasn't your fault."

"We're gonna have to go back to camp and tell everyone." Annabeth whispered, "I- I'm going to have to tell Luke that his baby sister is gone-"

"Not alone." Rachel whispered the words, "You're not going to be alone Annabeth. Sally will be there. I'll be there."

"Thank you."

And that was the last they said, but they stayed like that until the light was shining in through Percy's bedroom window- they'd fallen asleep eventually, but only for an hour or so. And neither of them could even be bothered to get changed before they slid into Sally's car and made the drive to camp, Annabeth formally inviting Rachel in when they arrived.

They pulled up in front of the Big House- and as they did Chiron came out onto the porch, clearly having noticed their arrival- and Luke and Thalia were close behind him.

They all stood on the porch, watching.

Luke and Thalia looked more confused than anything else- but Chiron had a look of concern on his face- there was a crease in his brow that he always got when he knew something was wrong.

His expression didn't shift as Sally and Rachel got out of the car- but it did when Rachel reached in and grabbed Annabeth's hand, gently tugging the daughter of Athena out- and he closed his eyes, an agonized look on his face as his shoulders slumped.

Luke had jogged down the steps of the porch, rushing towards them, Thalia right behind him, her expression slowly turning horrified when she spotted Annabeth before he did and she quickly realized that something was very wrong, while Luke remained ignorant as he reached them, "Mom! And- Rachel right- and-" he paused, spotting Annabeth "A-Annabeth? What are you doing here?" he looked around, confused, "Where are the others- is Percy in the car?"

And Annabeth shook her head, even as Rachel squeezed her hand tightly, silent and reassuring.

Luke stared, a look of confusion on his face as he just stared at Annabeth for a long moment.

"Annabeth- what- where's Percy-"

"Luke-" Thalia's voice was tight, and she tried to lay a hand on Luke's shoulder, but he shoved the hand away, stepping forward, a look of slowly dawning terror crossing his face as he shook his head.

"A-Annabeth please-"

"I'm sorry." the words came out as a whisper, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry-"

"No-" Luke was shaking his head frantically as Thalia's hand flew to her mouth and she choked down a shocked sob of her own as Chiron shook his head mournfully and opened his eyes.

"All of them?"

"We split up." Annabeth's words came out slow and heavy. "I- Grover, Tyson, Nico and Kayla went to try and find Pan. They- they're probably safe- other than Grover. Because of his empathy link. P-Percy and Leo. They... I tried to go back for them but-"

"Mount St Helens." Sally spoke up quietly, seeing how Annabeth was struggling to get the words out. "It's erupted. Percy and Leo were inside."

"No." Luke was shaking his head frantically, his entire body trembling, "No- no no no-"

"Luke-" Sally's eyes flooded with tears again, "Luke- honey-"

"No- no they can't be. Percy can't be-"

"Luke-"

"I swore. I swore to protect her always. She can't be dead she can't be-"

"Luke-" Thalia reached out to grab Luke's shoulder again- and Luke smacked her hand away- sending Thalia stumbling back, her eyes wide with shock when Luke screamed.

"Don't touch me!"

"Luke-"

"Don't fucking touch me!" campers who had been passing by were stopping to stare as Luke fell apart.

"Luke- honey-"

"I swore!" he was screaming the words, "I swore to Lord Poseidon that I'd protect her I swore. I made a promise. And I swore to her too I swore I'd always look after her."

"Luke. You need to calm down-" Chiron's voice was pained, "I understand your-"

"No! No you don't! You don't understand! She's my sister! I swore to protect her I swore I would." he was shaking, "I promised I'd always protect her no matter what and she- she can't be gone!"

"Luke- baby it's not your fault-" Sally's voice was pained and desperate but she was cut off by a clatter as Luke pulled a familiar shining bronze cylinder with a clip on the side and a pearl on the end of it and tossed it at the ground.

"What's the point in me even having the stupid sword if I'm not using it to protect her!" and then Luke was turning and running.

And when Sally found him on the beach four hours later, he crumbled in her arms, screams and sobs echoing in the empty beach as the waves pounded in the shore- a sign of Poseidon's distress.

And for the first time Luke understood how in a different future he might have come to despise the gods.