New Olympia General Hospital, 1:34 AM.
Peisinoe was dead. Archie was cured. They should have been happy. But it's hard to be happy when your best friend and teammate is in intensive care. When seven different doctors have told you that she won't survive.
Archie surveyed the hospital waiting room and sighed, realizing that he was the only one left awake.
How can they sleep, He wondered, running his hand through his purple hair absently, when Atlanta might die?
But, it was apparently possible. Five teens lay slumped across various couches and chairs, some snoring softly or clutching teddy bears. (I think we all know who I'm referring to, here. Here's a hint; Herry.)
Hera walked into the room just then, accompanied by a very elderly doctor. His eyes twinkled as he spoke.
"She'll be fine."
Archie leapt up, hardly able to contain his excitement.
"She'll be fine! Did you hear that? She'll be fine! Can I see her?"
The doctor nodded, but Theresa leapt up, pulling Jay with her.
"I think that we'd better see her first." She shot Archie an angry glare and marched into the room with the others right behind. Archie's face fell.
"Don't worry." Said Hera, reassuringly. "It wasn't your fault." But Archie wasn't so sure.
A moment later, a very sheepish looking Theresa emerged, followed by everyone else. Some looked vaguely annoyed at the girl in front of them. Theresa sighed.
"She, uh…she wants to talk to you."
Archie was gone before you could say "Bad heel."
Atlanta was certainly not in the best condition of her life. Most of the dried blood had been washed off of her hair and clothes, replaced by multiple tubes containing some sort of clear fluid. She smiled weakly when she saw Archie.
"You call me ugly, totally ignore me, and nearly kill me. Well? What do you have to say for yourself?" Many people would say that she was angry, but Archie could detect the hint of laughter in her voice. In spite of himself, he smiled.
"First off," He began, sitting down on Atlanta's bed, "You were a total jerk to me just before we got to the mall."
Atlanta laughed.
"So you're saying that this is all some sort of twisted revenge?"
Archie replied, jokingly;
"You could say that. But look. I really, really need to tell you something now. Just in case…you don't make it."
Atlanta sat up slightly, grimacing from the pain of even a simple task.
"Yeah?" Archie grabbed her hand, helping her back against the headboard. His heart was pounding. This was it. Three words that would make or break the pair's current relationship.
"I lo-" Archie began, but was cut off when Herry broke into the room, panting.
"It's Cronus!" He cried, "He's here!"
Atlanta tried to stand up, but nearly fainted as soon as her feet hit the ground. Archie grabbed her waist, steadying her.
"I-I'm coming, too." Atlanta said, walking unsurely across the room towards the door. About halfway there, she stopped and fell to her knees.
"Atlanta!" Archie ran over to her, helping her to her feet. Herry shook his head.
"I don't think you should come." He said to Atlanta. "You're weak enough already." Archie agreed, nodding. Atlanta looked defiant.
"I'm coming." She tore away from Archie and ran out of the room. Archie ran after her, reaching her just before she fell again. Atlanta sighed, turning to Archie.
"Help me?" She asked. Archie smiled.
"Always." He put his arm around Atlanta and the pair began to slowly make their way outside.
