AN:

I am sorry for the huge delay. I went through a massive writer's block. It also took some time to find someone to edit this for me. I hope you guys like it, forgive me for a few grammatical errors I am doing my best. Please follow and mark favorite if you like it.

Characters belong to Rick Riordan, but the plot is mine.

Chapter 5

Percy P.O.V.

I felt helpless, I have always hated feeling like this. All I could do is pray and hope. There was nothing I could do to make Annabeth better. Even her doctors said that they could not do anything more for now. They did not know what was happening to her. She had always helped me when I was in trouble. It killed me sitting here, unable to do anything.

We were still in the hospital only because of Apollo, the head surgeon and family friend who vouched for us.

Luke returned soon, and he brought us dinner as well as a change of clothes for Thalia.

"Any update?" Luke asked.

"She is still unconscious" I replied.

He just nodded.

Thalia came back and told Luke about our break-in attempt.

"You know, you could have waited for me to come back," Luke said, feeling offended.

"It all happened in the heat of the moment" I replied.

We ate our lunch silently waiting for any new information.

A lot of time passed, and we just sat and slept through it. Mr. Chase came back and sat with us briefly as well. Many people came and went, a few stayed back.

Hearing some commotion in the ICU, I went near the window to peek in. A good number of nurses were going in and out of the area assigned to Annabeth. I tried asking the nurses coming out about the situation, but no one paid me any heed. Soon Thalia and Luke joined me at the window.

Finally, Mr. Chase came out, he was sweating a lot and looked like he was on the verge of a major freak-out. We urged him to have a seat, brought him some water and called Mrs. Chase. Then when he had calmed down a bit, Thalia began her stream of questions.

"What happened in there?"

"She just suffered a brain hemorrhage," he said a bit shakily

"What?"

"A vein in her head exploded"

"I know that"

"Sorry."

"I mean how much would it affect her current condition?"

"I… I still don't know; I just don't know anything that's happening to her" he broke down.

Mrs. Chase chose that moment to make her entrance, and she saw us surrounding a crying Mr. Chase.

"Why are you little miscreants troubling Fredrick" she screamed

"Haven't we gone through enough already?" she continued

"Athena, Dear…" Mr. Chase tried to stop her, but she was on a roll

"Let me handle it Fredrick, Security…" she called out

A couple of hospital security guards addressed her call

"Please take these 3 out of here, they just keep on pestering us" she ordered

"But Ma'am we were just asking…" Luke tried to reason with her

"Just leave us alo…" her voice was cut out as we got pushed out of the hall

Flashback

"The flight is going to land at O'Hare International Airport Chicago in 10 minutes, and please tighten your seatbelts".

"Are you ready?" my mom inquired.

"Yes, I am" I replied confidently.

After landing, as we were collecting our luggage, my mom's phone rang.

"It's for you," she said giving me the phone.

"Hello…"

"So, you are back" replied the guy on the other side.

"Jace, bro…" I asked for confirmation

"Who else" he replied.

"Oh, I dunno, maybe Leo, Frank or even…" I joked.

"Ok smart ass, I am waiting outside. You guys are staying at my place" he replied laughing lightly.

"I dunno about that…" I said unsurely.

"No arguments, I have so much planned, you are not ruining it" he replied assertively.

"Ok, thanks, man," I said after asking mom.

"Don't mention it, and I bet I am taller than you now" he said starting our old banter again.

"I have been gone for like three months only" I replied

"Does that matter, I was always better than you. So, it's fitting if I am taller than you" he said faking seriousness.

"In your dreams" I replied laughing.

"We'll see," he said hanging up.

We came out in the lobby to find Jason holding up a big poster saying Fish Boy. I went straight to him and went to give a fist bump but punched him in the gut.

"You guys won't let it die, will you?" I said with mock anger.

"Leo's idea," he said between gasping for air.

"Fish Boy?" mom questioned.

"Long story mom," I said trying shoot it down.

"I would like to hear it" mom replied smiling.

"It's boring…" I tried again.

"I don't think it is, is it Jason?" my mom asked Jason.

"No ma'am, I will be glad to tell you about it" replied Jason.

"No, you won't, anyway I thought the whole crew was coming" I tried to change the topic.

"Oh! You'll meet them soon enough" he dismissed the query.

As we drove mom and Jason exchanged embarrassing stories about me. I was finally freed from the prison of eternal embarrassment as we reached our destination.

"You guys go ahead, I'll bring the luggage," Jason said opening the door for my mother.

"Percy will help, won't you?" mom asked me.

"Ya, sure" I replied.

"No, I insist. You two go ahead" Jason stressed.

"Ok" mom replied awkwardly.

We both went upstairs; his apartment was on the 2nd floor and went in using the key he gave us. The room was completely dark, I fumbled for the switch and gradually found it and switched it on.

"SURPRISE" all of them yelled at once.

"Welcome Back Perce," Jason said opening the door.

"Thank you, guys, this means so much to me," I said getting a bit teary eyed as I saw how much they adored me.

"See I am taller than you," Jason said stepping beside me and standing on his toes.

"You wish" I replied pushing him down on his feet.

They had organized a decent party considering I informed them just a few hours before arrival.

It felt terrific to be back with my old friends, and I felt like I belonged with them, not in New York. We had a great time together sharing old and new memories, telling each other that "I missed you" or "I love you" and making plans for the next day until it was late evening and time for everyone to go.

"Everyone let's meet at McDonald's near Paint Explosion tomorrow at 11," said Jason as we were saying goodbyes.

"I am so gonna win," said Frank.

"Not if I have a say in it" replied Leo.

"It's not archery you know that right" Hazel teased Frank.

"How different could it be, you do the same aim and shoot" replied Frank.

"As different as chalk and cheese," said Jason.

"We will see what happens tomorrow," I said trying break a possible argument.

"Yeah! Just wait for the match" Piper said.

AN:

Please review, would like to get some suggestions and some feedbacks, so the following chapters get better and better.