Dearest Readers,

I know some of you may be wondering why Persie has ran away from her place at Camp Half Blood with her friends and family, so this chappie is set to maybe clear some things up.

Or, perhaps to give you even more questions... muahahaha

Let me know what you think! Done forget to add this story to your libraries to stay up to date- or, even better- give me a follow!

XOXO Ally Layne.

Holy Water

19: We've All Got Daddy Issues

Once they made it back to Peter's house, Persie was pleased to tell the man about what they had achieved. He didn't need to be worried about a sudden drowning and could most definitely take a shower without fearing death.

When Peter hugged her in thanks, she noticed Dean's glare over his back.

She decided she didn't need to care about that. She was with the brothers to help them out, not to end up falling for one of them in some sort of whirlwind romance. Nope. Didn't need to happen, not going to happen.

After she had gotten herself cleaned up and healed most of the wounds she received while taking a shower herself, she was packing her things with Annabeth, who was very reluctant to get a shadow-travel trip back to New York.

"You have a proposal for your mother, Wise Girl," Persie reminded her. "Don't you want to perform your official Architect of Olympus duties?"

Her blonde friend let out a long sigh, running a hand through her curls. "And here I thought you wanted me around, Seph."

Persie paused in her packing of what little clothes she had. "Uh, since when did you start calling me that?"

Annabeth's grey eyes wandered around the room, stopping once they targeted the Winchesters who were also packing up their things. "Since you started letting a certain Dean Winchester call you that," she spoke softly. "When are you going to make a move?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"So what did I walk into at the gala, Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth raised a brow. "I think you know exactly what I'm talking about but you're just too scared to admit it."

Persie rolled her eyes. "Since when did you start giving out relationship advice, Wise Girl?"

For her part, Annabeth didn't rise at the other girl's jab. "Just because I'm not a daughter of Aphrodite or a beauty queen doesn't mean I'm completely obvious to basic human interactions. And all the basic signs of someone liking another person are there when Dean is around you."

"Are you saying I don't know-"

Annabeth stopped her, "I'm saying you need to stop being a Kelp Head and make a move on the man, already. It's obvious he's not going to do it."

Persie sighed. "Well, maybe he's not doing anything because he doesn't like me that way, did you think about that?"

Annabeth grabbed her arm, halting both in the process. "You need to stop living in the past, what happened in Tartarus happened, and we both need to move on."

"But what if I'm not ready?"

The daughter of Athena bit her lip. "Maybe you should try talking about what you went through. You know, when-"

"Yes, yes I know exactly what you mean."

Annabeth looked down, her body sagging slightly. "I still have nightmares, you know?"

Persie nodded. "Nearly every night."

"But I do know why you ran away from everything, Persie," she spoke. Her voice was quiet and small, unlike anything the other girl would think could come from Annabeth. "Sometimes, I wish that I could too."

"So why don't you?" Persie tilted her head.

Annabeth looked back over her shoulder at the Winchesters. "I have things I want to do. I need to build something…"

"Permanent?"

She nodded. "Yeah, that. I just don't think that could be found in this kind of life."

Persie watched the way her friend watched the younger Winchester with longing before turning back to finish packing up her bag. Annabeth then sent a text, before turning her phone off with a sigh.

"You know, what? I think you're wrong."

Annabeth looked over at Persie in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Actually I'm pretty sure this is the first time that I'm going to try to prove that you're wrong, and I'm right, so here goes nothing-"

"You guys should learn to lock your doors," a British-accented voice chirped from the doorway. "Anyone could barge in."

"Anyone just did," Persie grumbled. She glared over at Bela, who waltzed right over to where Sam and Dean were standing. "Did you come to say goodbye or thank you?"

Bela frowned over at her before turning back to the Winchesters. "I've come to settle affairs." She took out four bound wads of cash from her designer bag. "Giving the spirit what he wanted, very clever, Sam. So, here."

Sam blinked, before looking over to Annabeth. "Wasn't just me, Annabeth actually-"

Bela threw them each a wad before he could finish. "It's 20,000 dollars. That should cover it."

Persie blinked down at the $5,000 that she knew was in her hand. What the Hades was this woman playing at?

Bela sighed, reading the tension in the room. "I don't like being in anyone's debt."

Dean shook his head at the woman. "So, ponying up 20 grand is easier for you than a simple thank you?" He let out a huff of laughter. "You're so damaged."

She gave him a sickly sweet smile. "Takes one to know one." She eyed the other two girls before turning back to the Winchesters. "Goodbye you two."

Then, as quickly as she entered their lives, she walked out the door without a backwards glance.

Persie let out a huff. "What a bitch."

"She's got style, you gotta give her that," Sam said, making Annabeth and Persie groan in unison.

Dean shrugged, flipping through the money. "I suppose."

"No, she is a narcissist with daddy issues," Annabeth decided. "Trust me, there is no style in that."

"I mean, I think all of us here have daddy issues," Persie continued, making Annabeth roll her eyes and the men both wince. "Sorry, not sorry, it's true. But I don't think that any of us would be acting like that anytime soon."

Dean let out a laugh. "You're not wrong."

Sam grabbed his bag and threw it over his shoulder. "Well, I suppose we best be going."

Annabeth nodded. "My ride is almost here."

Dean's eyebrows furrowed. "Your what?"

A young man dressed in all black stalked out of the shadows. "You called?"

"Nico!" Persie exclaimed, grabbing him in for a side hug. "Guess who just got 5 grand for not killing someone?"

Nico, who Dean had to remind himself was Persie's cousin, let out a sigh. "Was it you?"

She nodded. "Look, it's real."

He grabbed the cash and looked at it curiously before handing it back. "Do you know how many McDonald's Kids Meals this could be?"

Persie shrugged. "You can do the math. But my cap is 20."

Annabeth laughed at his expense, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, you can take from some of my stash too, Death Breath."

"Who in their right mind gave that to you, anyway?" Nico asked.

"I don't think she qualifies as being in her right mind," Dean spoke, his voice low and gravely.

Persie figured he was trying to intimidate the guy she still had an arm around, so she wrapped her other arm around Nico too to see what he would do.

"She?" Nico looked down at Persie. "The one who said she would help you after you passed out but ended up ditching us instead? That she?"

Annabeth sighed. "Among other things, yes."

Dean had to remember that this Nico kid was Persie's cousin. Again. He pursed his lips together in an elegant pout.

"Are these things that you'll tell me later over the way you're looking at me which means that you don't want to talk about this here?"

Persie and Annabeth looked at Nico, confused. "I think that's the most I've heard you say in a row in… years," Persie marveled.

Nico sighed. "I'm capable of words."

"Well, yeah, but-"

"We don't know where this money's been," Annabeth deadpanned, looking down at the wad of cash in her hand as if she had just realized something horrifyingly terrific. "This might've been-"

"Used when Bela rolled around her bed naked in money," Persie finished.

Everyone stopped and looked at her, though Dean burst into laughter.

"It's a private joke," She explained to her fellow demigod friends. "She told us that's how she slept. And apparently, she decided to share us in on the goods."

Annabeth looked even more horrified. "I need to burn this."

Nico shook his head, "Nah I can just take it off your hands."

"I know where this money'll be going," Dean chimed in.

Persie's eyes widened, seeing a familiar salacious grin on his face. "Dear gods save me, you better not be bringing me to another casino."

Nico and Annabeth chose this time to burst into laughter at the terror written on their friend's face.

"Why, what's wrong with a casino?" Dean asked, crossing his arms at her. "And what's up with them?"

Persie ignored him while she moved away from Nico and Annabeth, who were still chortling in laughter. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up jerkwads. You know that place was cursed."

Nico rolled his eyes. "No shit, Sherlock." He looked over at Dean before grabbing Annabeth's arm. "Just stay away from the Lotus Casino, and you'll be fine."

And, with that, he tugged Annabeth in the shadows as she waved goodbye.

Leaving Persie alone with the Winchesters- again.

"Well, Sam," she spoke, instantly getting their attention. "That is style."

With that, she grabbed her bag and walked out of the house and into the open Impala.

Persie hoped that just maybe she had a little style, too.

.

.

.

.

.

"Seriously? Atlantic City?"

Persie woke from the little nap she had taken, though, considering it was night, she figured she should've been sleeping by now. They know she needs sleep, but apparently, neither of them care.

"Hell yeah," Dean let out a whoop. "Play some roulette, always bet on black.."

Persie kept her eyes closed as he spoke, especially as something in his tone changed that made her feel this was only for his brother.

Demigod ears- off.

Spy ears… on.

"Hey, listen. I've been doing some thinking, and, um, I want you to know… I understand why you did it. I understand why you went after the Crossroads Demon. You know, if the situation was reversed, I guess I'd have done the same thing." Dean let out a low sigh. "I mean, I'm not blind. I see why you're going through with this whole deal, me going away and all that… but, you're gonna be okay."

Persie couldn't find it in herself to wipe away the tears that had fallen from her closed eyes.

Sam's voice was hoarse. "You think so?"

"Yeah, you'll keep hunting," Dean continued. She didn't like the sound of his voice. He was imagining what the world would be like when he was gone- in hell. She didn't like that at all. "You know, you'll live your life. You're stronger than me, you are. You are, you'll get over it. But I want you to know that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for putting you through this, I am.'

The car stayed in silence for a moment.

"You know what, Dean?" Sam's voice was filled with anger. "Go screw yourself."

"What?" Persie could hear Dean's shock.

"I don't want an apology from you. And by the way, I'm a big boy now, I can take care of myself."

Dean scoffed. "Oh, well, excuse me."

"So would you please quit worrying about me?" Sam's voice increased in volume. "That's the whole problem in the first place! I don't want you to worry about me, Dean. I want you to worry about you, I want you to give a crap that you're dying!"

Dean was silent, and as Persie opened her eyes, letting the remainder of the tears fall down her cheeks, she saw that he was staring out at the road ahead of him with a small smile on his lips.

"So, that's it?" Sam asked, his voice quieter now. "Nothing else to say for yourself?"

Dean took a deep breath. "I think maybe I'll play craps."

Persie blinked, and suddenly things started to align for her.

She might not be able to save herself from her past- yes, she was going to have to keep running as long as she could.

But she knew she needed to save him from his.

Tartarus or not, she was going to save Dean Winchester.

No matter what the cost.