Hi. Sooo...better late than never right? Feel free to yell at me in the comments:')
Tbh, I'd re-read the last chapter at least, since it picks up there, but I'm hardly in a position for demanding anything, lol.
Chapter 8.
-Later that night-
Percy had pulled out every blanket that everyone in the entire building had, and he was currently creating the thickest pallet ever on my floor while me and Mrs. O'leary sat on the couch watching.
"I have a couch you know," I teased lightly.
"I want her first day with us to be as comfortable as possible!" He argued.
"You already grilled her a whole chicken breast Percy, you're going to spoil her rotten before she's even two months old." I found myself ending my sentence in a baby voice as I held her up by her armpits, shaking her slightly and making her chunky little body dance.
"I like to spoil my women, what can I say." He wiped his nose with his shirt, effectively dodging the look I shot at him.
It was quiet for a moment, no sound other than the crackling of the fireplace.
"Can I atleast know what movie we are watching?" I finally asked.
He froze, "I thought you were picking?" He slowly started to finish laying the blanket he had in his hands down.
I just stared at him.
"First you only make dinner for your puppy, and now you don't even have a movie picked out? I pray for whatever girl you end up dating."
He scoffed, reaching for yet another blanket "I told you, I know how to spoil my women."
I huff, "I've yet to see this in action." You say it so quietly that he looks over to you.
"What was that?" He taunts, "I didn't hear you." His eyes were dark, a challenge evident in his words.
I size him up, looking him up and down, completely unfazed. "No, I think you heard me loud and clear," I challenge back, my eyebrows raised expectantly.
He smirks, suddenly moving towards me. He flinches when a yell suddenly comes from below your feet.
"WHERE IS SHE?" Sally's voice screeched excitedly, "WHERE'S MY NEW GRANDDOG?"
The flirtatious tension immediately dissipates as we laugh at the older woman, "UP HERE, SALLY!" I yell back to her
Percy cracks a cheesing grin, walking over and making grabby hands for the puppy, "C'mere little lady." He says as he reaches for her in my lap.
He catches me off guard when he passes the puppy and goes right in to tickle both sides of my stomach.
Immediately I'm squealing, and trying to get away from the attack. He let go almost as soon as he had started, grabbing the puppy with a self satisfied smirk.
The door to the stairs opened, Sally barging in. He winked at me before spinning around to offer this mother her new grandchild.
I was breathing heavily, trying to recover from the brief onset of war. With flaring nostrils, I stand up to go and get a glass of water.
As I stand at the sink, I hear Sally singing Mrs. O'leary praises, and I can't help but grin at the look of absolute bliss all over Percy's face.
I pulled out a couple of bags of popcorn, kettle for me and extra movie theater butter for Percy.
Sally was cooing at the puppy, holding her like a baby, "Oh, you want to come stay with MawMaw, ok baby girl, you can come stay with me."
Percy snatched Mrrs. O'leary out of her arms, "I've heard enough, you're done."
Sally looked at him absolutely betrayed, "Perseaus, I will-"
"You're done." he raises his hand to her and pinches his lips to keep his face serious.
Sally glances over to me in the kitchen, "Annabeth, you mark my words. I'm gonna get Grandmaw time with this baby."
"Yes Ma'am, I'll see to it. You're one of Percy's girls, so you're bound to be spoiled by him letting you get puppy time."
Percy looked at me incredulously, free hand palm up as he mouthed "really?"
Sally glanced between us, "Ok, I'm missing something, but I'm going to ignore it so you two can get back to… whatever this is." She gestures to the whole room. With one last smile she disappears out the door, shutting it on her way out.
Percy set's Mrs. O'Leary down before standing back up to look at me.
"Dude." He holds his arms up in exasperation, "My mother doesn't count."
He starts walking to the kitchen, ears perking up when he hears the popcorn in the microwave.
He looks excitedly at the half inflated bag moving in circles, "Is that-"
"Yes, extra butter. I have your extra seasoning salt on the counter, too."
He does a little happy dance, reaching for my hands to pull me into it. He starts doing the twist, laughing gleefully as I slide in my socks. I can't stop the grin plastered on my face. He goes to spin me, dipping me slightly. I just barely catch a glimpse of movement in my peripherals, glancing towards it, my face drops the smile.
"Percy, your dog." I say quickly.
The rest happens in slow motion.
He looks up, his eyes widening, "NOOOOO!" He shouts.
He pulls me up forcefully before running over to the puppy as she was midstream, scooping her up and pushing out the door. He was yelling the whole time.
I didn't have much time to appreciate the humor since the muscular man had pulled me up with enough force to throw off my balance, my socked feet slipping out from under me. I grasped at the air, trying to grab anything that could stop me, but to no avail.
The ground was coming up quickly, and I instinctively reached my arms out in front of me to catch myself.
With a sickening crunch, my right wrist gave way and I crumpled to the floor seeing red.
I wasn't sure how much time had passed before I heard Percy storming back up the steps, his voice getting louder as he got closer, "-forgot that puppies have to be house trained, but we will work on it won't we girl. Say sorry to Annabeth for pottying on her flo- Annabeth?" Percy asked when he didn't see me right away.
I was curled up on the ground clutching my wrist, tears streaming down my face.
"ANNABETH!" He yelled, "Are you ok, what happened? Talk to me!" He was suddenly kneeled down beside me, one arm supporting my head, the either waving aimlessly trying to determine where to be.
I let loose a laugh sob, "Ouch," I winced, looking up to the concerned face looming over me, "Socks were a bad idea. I slipped when you pulled me up. I think I broke my wrist trying to catch myself."
He looked absolutely mortified, "Gods Annabeth, hold on." He scrambled to his feet , "MOM!" he yelled, his panic clearly evident in his voice because Sally didn' even yell back before her steps sounded on the stairs.
He moved down to my feet, pulling off the socks as Sally came in, moving frantically.
"What happened?" She said as soon as she saw me on the ground.
"I think I broke Annabeth's wrist. I need you to watch the puppy, I'm taking her to the ER. Will you open the doors so I can carry her?" He spoke calmly, with authority that I didn't know he possessed.
"Of course," she said.
"Guys, it's just my wrist, I can walk," I said as I went to try and stand. The shifting movement suddenly brought the throbbing in my left leg to my attention. I stifled a groan of pain.
Percy caught it though, "Nope, you're cut off from activity until I've had a doctor look at you. Don't argue with me." He put one arm under my knees, wrapping the other around my back.
I grunted as he stood up, effortlessly lifting me. I wrapped my left arm around his neck, holding my right arm to my chest. "Whatever, I'm only agreeing to this because I want to see the X-ray." I mutter.
Percy doesn't even blink at my snarkiness, "Mom, grab my keys out of my entry bowl on the way down, will you?" He starts to walk towards the open door.
Sally scoops up Mrs. O'Leary, "This is NOT what I meant when I said I was going to get Grandmaw time." She said as she followed him down the stairs.
I couldn't help but laugh, "I told you I'd see to it, Sally."
I wince at the jostling of the stairs, I see Percy look down at me. His face was almost unreadable, steely and serious. His usually bright green eyes were the darkest shade of green I'd seen. I watch him closely.
"I'm sorry for ruining your first night with Mrs. O'Leary." I say quietly as we get to the bottom of the stairs.
He focuses his dark eyes on mine, his features soften just slightly, "Don't apologize. I did this, I'm the one who should be saying sorry."
I look at him confused as he swings us through the front door his mom was holding open, "This wasn't your fault Perce. Don't carry that."
He looks at me again, his jaw clenching visibly, but he doesn't speak. Sally opened the passenger side of his Jeep, and he carefully leaned me into the seat.
I let go of his neck, "Thanks."
He put my seatbelt on, and I rolled my eyes at his overboard attentiveness.
"Watch yourself," he warned as he closed the door roughly.
I watched as he said something inaudible to his mom, who said something back that seemed to calm him down slightly. He walked around to the drivers side, and got in.
"Just hang tight," He gave me a sheepish smile, "it's only a 15 minute drive."
I nodded, taking a moment to try to stretch my hurt wrist in an attempt to assess the damage.
The grinding and sharp pain stopped me in my tracks, and I slowly pulled it back to my chest.
Percy watched me worriedly as I moved, glancing back to the road every so often.
I reached to turn the volume up slightly to hear the Luke Combs song playing.
He gripped the steering wheel with both hands.
I started humming along, my eyes drifting over to watch the faint skyline getting darker, the flash of a lightning bug appearing occasionally.
I sighed, worrying about what had actually happened to my hand, and contemplating how I was about to afford an emergency room bill.
I felt a rough hand slide into my not hurt hand, interlacing our fingers. I smile, still looking out the window.
I look over to him, but his eyes are focused on the road now.
He must have felt me look at him because he says softly, "Don't worry about any of that. It's going to be fine." He gives my hand a slight squeeze, and I squeeze back.
His eyes meet mine in the glow of the stereo, he has a reassuring smile on his face, "I promise." he says confidently.
Suddenly all of the worry and pain subsides, and all I can focus on is his thumb rubbing small circles on the back of my hand.
-After the ER like 1:30 AM-
Percy opened the door to the Jeep, offering his hand to help me.
I let my left hand go to him, struggling to get my legs to cooperate this late at night.
He gave me a sympathetic smile, "Not a morning person, or a night person, huh?"
I managed to get to the ground with his help before I glared at him sleepily, "Don't make me hit you, this cast is heavy you know." I made a show of the grey cast on my arm.
A few hundred dollars, a broken wrist, and a bruised knee cap later, I was a hot mess.
Percy held his hands up in defense jokingly, "You tell me how it is Wisegirl, instill that fear in my heart."
I grin sleepily, satisfied with his response.
He walks me to the door with a hand on my good arm, my pain meds making me slightly uneasy on my feet.
He lets go just long enough to unlock the door. Sally and the puppy are curled up on the couch with the lamp on. Netflix's "Are you still watching?" page was on the TV.
I giggle and Percy shakes his head.
"I gotta get you up to bed, you're delirious." He says to himself.
He walks me over to his mom, shaking her gently. She opens her eyes groggily, "How is she?" She mumbles.
I raise my arm to show her as she looks at me, and she pouts her bottom lip out, "Oh, Honey."
I smile, "It's ok, Percy is a good caretaker." I nod my head matter of fact like.
She grins looking at him, "She get the good stuff?" She asks him with a chuckle.
"Oh yeah, 100%," He said smiling, "She's been like this for the last hour and a half or so."
I frown at them, "I'm right here."
He looks at me fondly, "I know you are, your silly is showing though."
"Oh, no!" I try to cover myself up with my uncoordinated hands "Why didn't you tell me?" I said embarrassed.
Sally laughed, "Oh boy, get that girl upstairs and to bed." She looks at her son pointedly, "Her own bed that is. Then come get your dog; I'll take her out to potty for you."
Percy rolls his eyes at his mom, "You think so little of me mother, I would never."
"I know, I'm just kidding." She grinned at him before looking at me, "Goodnight, dear. I'll bring you breakfast in the morning. But take your time, and rest up. I'll cover the Sunday shift."
I smiled, not completely sure what all she was saying at the moment, but I nod anyway.
Percy gently grabbed my arm again, ushering me to the stairs, "Let's go Wisegirl, nice and slow."
He patiently managed to get me up all of the stairs, and to my bed. He pulled my covers back.
I was grateful for having already changed into my pajamas when we had been getting ready for the movie.
I crawled into the open spot, Percy making sure I didn't make any sudden movements.
After I managed to get situated fairly easily, Percy pulled the covers over me, tucking them in slightly.
He stood up, looking at me with a small smile, "All settled. I'll bring you a glass of water just in case you wake up in the middle of the night."
He turned to walk out, turning my fan on as he tuned, and switching the light off as he walked out the door.
The weight of the day hit me all at once, I was exhausted, and I felt myself start to drift off.
I was vaguely aware of Percy coming back into the room, water in hand. He used the glow of the living room light to set it on the bedside table.
My eyes were closed, but I felt him sit down on the bed next to me.
"Goodnight, Annabeth." He whispered, placing a kiss on my forehead.
He went to stand up, but I reached out for his hand, stopping him.
"Percy?" I asked, a little more awake, sitting up slightly
"Yeah?" He said softly.
"Come closer."
He leaned in just a little, "Yeah?" he repeated.
I sigh, even in my groggy medicated state I can still recognize him as a goober.
"Jeez, Seaweed Brain, you make it way too hard to kiss you." I sit up further, closing the rest of the distance, and place a small kiss on his lips.
His face beamed in the dim light.
"I've been wanting to do that for weeks," I breathe out, laying back down promptly, "Thanks for taking care of me today."
As soon as the words left my lips, I feel myself losing consciousness, falling deepling into the void of heavily medicated pain reducing slumber.
I miss him whispering, "Me, too."