Annabeth's POV

The driver wasn't going fast enough. I wanted him to plow through the traffic and get me to the hospital. I couldn't even make out where we were through my stream of tears. I hadn't stopped crying since I got the news in my office. Percy held my hand as I tried to reach Malcolm and Dad, but neither one of them were answering my calls. I just needed to get there. I needed to be with my mom.

The rain outside pelted the car roof like bullets, the jarring sound only worsening my anxiety. With one hand holding Percy's and the other clinging to my phone, I thought about the times I'd spent with my mother before her Alzheimer's diagnosis. Baking her famous sugar cookies. Rollerblading through the park. Watching the same movies over and over until we could recite every line. Dancing together after family dinners. Dressing up for the annual Christmas photo. Calling her for life chats, always layered with tenderness and wisdom.

Were we wrong to put her in that facility?

Malcolm had done the research and convinced me it was a good decision. The place rated higher than anywhere else we found. But still…it never felt right locking my own other away, entrusting her safety and care to strangers. Even if they were professionals.

I hear Percy ask the driver if we were getting close. The word "yes" punctures through my cloud of agonizing fear.

My phone buzzed suddenly. I looked down to check it, an intense wave of fear washing over me.

Dad: Annabeth, it's Dad.

Dad: Sorry I missed your call, it's chaos over here.

Dad: Lots to explain, you know I'm not the best at texting.

Dad: Worried, but staying strong for you and your brother. He needs you right now.

Dad: See you soon honey.

I don't think there's anything worse than watching someone you love hooked up to a machine, unconscious, especially when it's the person who raised you. Seeing my mom in this condition made me feel infinitely powerless. I knelt at her bedside and grasped her hand as Malcolm and my dad hovered over me.

"They found her just wandering the streets last night." Dad's voice was choked-up. "The doctors say she contracted pneumonia. She's stable right now. I'm just glad they were able to find her before…" He couldn't bring himself to finish the end of that sentence.

"This is fucking ridiculous," Malcolm muttered. He rarely ever swore, especially not in front of our dad, no matter how old we were.

"How the hell did they let this happen?" Malcolm continued. "If they let an old woman with Alzheimer's out onto the streets in the middle of the night, what the hell are we even paying them for?" His tone was angry and unlike himself. It hurt to hear him so upset. But he was right.

"It's unacceptable," Dad agreed. "But there isn't really anything else we can do right now. We're all here, she's doing alright. We just need to stay positive right now and be there for each other. As a family. I swear my dad could've been some kind of motivational speaker. He always puts things into perspective. He stood up and wrapped me and Malcolm in a warm embrace. At the end of the day, we were all here. Together. Even mom.

After Dad left, Malcolm and I stayed behind to talk about the elephant in the room: what to do about the facility. I watched my brother pace what seemed to be like miles around the small hospital room.

"We should put her in a different facility, Annabeth."

"Where? We are already paying a fortune in fees. Another place might be even more expensive for the same care. This was the highest-rated care facility we could afford."

"Yeah, and they let our sick mother get lost on the streets," Malcolm spat.

"Mistakes happen—"

"Then let them happen to someone else! Not our mother," he said, silencing me with his rising tone. I knew he already felt guilty for not being able to contribute more money toward her care. No doubt, this incident only made him feel more powerless.

"Malcolm, I know you're upset, but Mom would want us to figure this out calmly and rationally."

"I know…I'm sorry. Maybe we should just have a firm talk with them. Making sure they're actually doing what we are paying them to do."

Luckily, my job had given me a lot of practice in holding people accountable. I was ready to confront the facility operators in the same stern but measured tone I had recently mastered.

"Yes, Malcolm. When we drop her off, that's what we'll do.

Annabeth: Are you still here?

Percy: Of course I'm still here. We're in the lot.

Annabeth: Okay.

Annabeth: Did you come inside?

Percy: No. Should I have?

Annabeth: Maybe.

Annabeth: Actually no. Not the best time for you to meet them ;) I'm coming down now.

Percy: Okay bella.

The car ride back started quietly. I sat on one side of the limo beside Percy, resting my head on his shoulder, his natural musk soothing me like a scented candle.

"How's your mother?" he asked carefully, running his hand through my hair and kissing my forehead. I hadn't even told him she was the one inside, but he knew anyway.

"She's stable, but unconscious. The doctors told us not to wake her."

"How about the rest of your family…you father and brother?"

"As good as they can be. Dad is worried, Malcolm's furious at Mom's care facility. She got pneumonia because she wandered out of the place."

"What kind of care is that?" Percy asked, sounding as irritated as Malcolm.

"It's highly rated," I assured him. "We're going to speak to them when we drop her off."

Percy ran his hand through his hair and sat up a bit. "I think you should take some time off from work to figure out family matters."

Excuse me?

His tone was even, but I suspected this was more of an order than a suggestion.

"Why?" I sat up, and directed a suspicious gaze at him, nearly forgetting he couldn't see.

"I just think it might be a good idea to clear your head for a while and recoup."

"So that you can replace me with someone else?" I blurted out.

Yikes.

"Of course not. You're irreplaceable to me, mio piccolo topo," he said innocently, turning my head and planting a soft kiss on my lips.

"I just don't know why you suddenly think I need time off," I said, doing my best to ignore his seduction.

"Not everything is a conspiracy, Annie," he said. "I'm just looking out for you. I promise."

Was I overreacting? Hard to tell. Nico never suggested I take time off, even when I was sick. Was Percy truly being genuine? Or was this some sort of elaborate plan to take away my current position because I hadn't yet become his sub?

Yet.

Apparently, I was still considering it.

Percy hadn't really given me a reason not to trust him, but something about this offer bothered me.

That said, maybe he was right. I doubted the image of my mother hooked up in the hospital would leave my mind anytime soon. It might be nice to have a few days to spend time with her.

"You're right," I said, fighting off my lingering reservations. "Thank you."

Who is Percy Jackson?

Was it safe to trust him? Or was I letting my guard down too far, too fast? I couldn't be sure. But with the image of my unconscious mom in mind, and the anxiety of what might happen to her rippling through me, I wasn't in any position to fight. So, I did what my body was telling me to.

I kissed him.

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