This. Is. Bloody. Torture.

I swear, there is nothing worse than not being able to update a chapter when you know people are waiting so eagerly for it. I know as well as anyone how annoying waiting is: I've felt it(and still feel it).

That's the main reason why I try my best to update ASAP. The longest time I have ever taken to update a chapter is five months.

Anyway, since I can't update chapter 24, I thought I might as well work on improving older chapters.

Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Chapter 5: Not Without You

*Annabeth POV*

The word refused to leave my mind, the echo of it resounding in the room long after it was said.

Death.

Apollo hadn't said it, but I knew what he meant. I was dying.

After my life was finally in order, after I had gotten everything I had ever wanted-how could I possibly die now? After everything I had gotten through, this is how my life would end? Writhing in agony on a hospital bed?

I would not end my life this way.

It was just as the thought flooded my mind that the pain-the true pain-began. If I had thought I was suffering before, it was absolutely nothing compared to now. I felt like a living volcano.

The liquid fire had turned into gallons of lava, burning through every pore of my body. I writhed and twisted on the bed, screaming, looking for any outlet for the pain.

I heard hysterical, worried voices, but the one voice I wanted desperately to hear was silent. I couldn't open my eyes because of the pain, couldn't do anything but succumb to it.

No.

The thought was mine but it was Percy's voice I heard. Annabeth, you're not getting away from me that easily.

I can't do anything, I thought helplessly. I'm going to die. Even Apollo said so.

Damn what Apollo says. I know you, Wise Girl, and you put up a hell of a fight if you want to. I know you can do this.

For me. For your dad. For your friends. Fight.

The voice faded but the message didn't. Fight.

I was possessed by determination. I never gave up and I definitely wasn't going to now.

I took a deep breath and started my battle.

*Percy POV*

It was the series of long, drawn-out beeps that broke the silence in the room. All of us turned instinctively, as one, towards it. Apollo pushed past me and bent over Annabeth.

His hand went to her wrist, and a bewildered expression crossed his face. He turned back to us.

"Her heart rate is increasing."

"Is that good or bad?" a voice asked from the doorway. I turned to see Athena standing there, her usually composed expression torn by worry and pain. "It could be either way," Apollo said tactfully, but I noticed the utter hopelessness in his eyes.

He evidently didn't believe it to be good.

I turned to look at Annabeth again, and for the first time, I noticed a difference in her face. For the past few hours, her expression had been wracked with pain, but today it was one I knew all too well: the look she had when she refused to give up.

Hope flooded me. Maybe, just maybe, Annabeth was fighting back.

I didn't voice my opinion, but at that moment Nico spoke up. "How's Jasmine?"

Apollo's face lightened slightly. "She's alright. Still unconscious, but all her vitals are good. She's not in any danger, Nico."

Nico looked slightly relieved, but his eyes turned back to Annabeth, and his face once again turned dejected.

Thalia hadn't said anything ever since Apollo had told us about the 'long-term effect'.

My mind had rejected the pain the words brought me, the image of living in a world without Annabeth almost too much for me to bear. It felt like a gaping chasm stretched wider in my chest with every hour that passed, ripping my heart open bit by bit.

I smacked my hand on the cabinet, ignoring the pain. "There must be SOMETHING we can do!"

No one uttered a retort, in fact Apollo and Thalia just shot me saddened looks, almost sympathising. I couldn't believe that they had just given up hope altogether.

"Come on, Thalia!" I cried angrily. "You, of all people! You never give up!"

She fixed her gaze on the floor. "Some battles can't be won, Percy."

I was about to retort when there came the frantic thudding of footsteps along the hallway, and a girl dashed into the room. She looked towards Annabeth and I recognized her: it was Jasmine, the girl who had saved us.

Her eyes fixed on Annabeth's face and an expression of complete horror distorted her features.

"Lord Apollo!" she gasped. "You'll lose her if you don't act soon!"

"We don't know-"

"It's a mixed poison, and it's extremely dangerous-even the maker can be killed during the process. I don't know how she managed it, but Kelli's claws were imbibed with the venom of the most potent monsters to be found! I stole her antidote book-"

She handed Apollo a slim book, and his eyes narrowed, flipping through the book before he arrived at a particular page. His eyes widened, and with a nod in Jasmine's direction, he vanished.

"What in Tartarus was that about?" Thalia demanded, her voice hoarse. "Who the Hades are you?"

"I think I owe you an explanation," Jasmine sighed. She sat down on a spare chair and started to speak. "My name is Jasmine Taylor. I-I'm a daughter of Morpheus."

"That's how you knocked out the dracaena," Nico realized.

"Yes. In the Titan war, I-" Jasmine hesitated, fixing her gaze on the floor. "I-I initially fought on the side of Kronos."

Thalia picked up the key word. "Initially?"

"I-I was on the Princess Andromeda that night." She directed her gaze towards me, and I understood what she was talking about. She had been one of the few demigods who had escaped the night Beckendorf and I blew up the ship.

"I heard what you said, when you told Tyler to escape. I knew who you were of course, the number of times Luke complained about you. And I-I started thinking that you couldn't have been as bad as he said you were, if you wanted to help us live."

"After I left the ship, I didn't go back to Kronos's camp. I didn't know if you would accept me, so I stayed away. I tried to find out what was going on, and help in any way I could."

Jasmine looked at Annabeth as she continued. "I read up on poisons. My father couldn't be dissuaded from helping Kronos, but he sent me to Hecate, to study magic and potions."

"She taught me as a favour to my father, and I learnt all I know now under her tutelage. I apologize for not getting here sooner, but I was really tired. I came here as fast as I could once I woke up."

"Are you kidding?" I asked, incredulous. "We would be dead if it wasn't for you, and you just saved Annabeth! We owe you our lives!"

Jasmine smiled quietly. "It was my way of repayment. For what I did-for helping Kronos. I'm sorry."

"That's alright," Thalia said, a slight smile on her lips. "You came to your senses, didn't you? You stopped helping them."

"How did you know about the poison?" I asked. "And why does Kelli hate you so much?"

Jasmine laughed. "I've met her before. I stopped a mortal boy from falling into her trap, and she tried to kill me but didn't succeed. I gave her a week's worth of nightmares."

Thalia snorted. "I bet she deserved it."

Jasmine nodded. "I knew about the poison because, well, I was spying on her. She really hates you, Percy. I stole her antidote book, just in case something went wrong."

"Wait, that's why you crashed the ball tonight?" Nico interrupted.

"Yes. I knew she was planning her revenge."

"Thank you so much," I said gratefully. "I'll owe you for the rest of my life."

"Suck that up Jasmine," Thalia advised. "It's not often the Percy Jackson owes someone."

"Shut up, Thalia."

"Thanks but no thanks," she replied, laughing. "I believe we're all in Percy's debt too, after he saved Olympus."

"With our help of course," Thalia muttered under her breath, but I noticed the amusement in her face. Before I could retort, Apollo reappeared in the room holding a vial that contained a lavender liquid.

"Let's pray this works," Apollo muttered as he touched the vial to Annabeth's lips.

*Annabeth POV*

Too…tired…

It was exhausting fighting back. I had to struggle to stay awake, to allow myself not to sink into the chasm that I would never escape from. The lava boiling in my circulatory system would soon reach my heart, and then I would truly be dead.

I kept in my mind the image of everyone who loved me. I remembered Thalia rolling her eyes when she argued with Luke, and Grover in a bridal dress when we had saved him from the lair of Polyphemus.

I remembered Nico showing up at the Battle of Manhattan with Hades, and Katie Gardner fighting beside me at the Battle of the Labyrinth. I remembered Alice helping me to find a dress for the prom, and Rachel telling me how Percy felt about me.

And I remembered Percy holding me in his arms, telling me to stay with him, to not leave him alone. Percy, who I had taken a knife to save. Percy, who would be devastated if I died now.

Love truly had no boundaries. All of my friends were so completely different in every way, but they all loved me equally. After all they had done for me, I couldn't give up on them now.

And so I kept breathing, although each breath felt like a dagger wound to my lungs. I kept my heart pumping, although the poison ran in my blood.

Suddenly, I felt a cool metal touch my mouth and instinctively parted my lips. A sweet liquid gushed into my throat, and I swallowed it. After a few minutes, the pain began to recede. The fire began to grow smaller and smaller, away from my heart and major organs. Instead of the pain, I felt strength blossom throughout my body, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.

The next instant, the pain of the fire vanished like it had never existed in the first place. It felt like water ran in my arteries now, not the venom that was killing me. I welcomed the sweet relief; it was a blessed gift after hours of agony.

I opened my eyes and the room descended into utter chaos.

Thalia flew at me first, her arms locking around my neck as she sobbed unrestrainedly. "Thalia!" I heard a voice warn. "Annabeth has just woken up!"

I looked around to find Apollo smiling in relief, pulling Thalia back as she wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. "I would've killed you if you died, you know that right?" she sobbed, fiercely dashing the teardrops away.

"I know that Thals," I smiled at my friend, before my eyes turned to Nico, who looked like he finally had some colour in his cheeks. "Thank the gods," he said, relieved. "I thought we lost you forever. You gave us such a scare, Annabeth."

I laughed slightly. "I'm so sorry, Nico."

My gaze swept over the girl sitting at the far corner. I remembered her name-Jasmine. She had been the one to save us. I smiled at her thankfully and she returned it, beaming.

My mother swept forward and bent down, gently kissing my forehead. "My dear, you had no idea what a panic you had us in! Promise me you'll never worry me like that again," she said worriedly, and I smiled. "I promise, Mother."

It was nice to be fussed over for once, especially by my mother. She was always so formal and stern. This was the one time I had seen her so loving and caring.

And then my eyes locked on the person sitting right next to me, eyes filled with relief, face paler than usual.

Percy.

Everyone filed out, leaving us alone in the room. Percy still hadn't said anything.

"Percy?" I asked, worried. "Percy, are you okay?"

His eyes met mine, disbelieving, and he laughed hollowly. "You nearly died, and you're asking me if I'm okay?"

"Percy, I'm fine."

"FINE? You're lying in a HOSPITAL BED, with an IV drip in your arm, and you nearly DIED! That is NOT fine!"

Percy's eyes were dark with anger, and I shrank back against the bed. "Percy, please," I begged. "Calm down."

He ran his hands through his hair in frustration, but his green eyes lightened, returning to their normal colour. "I'm sorry. I just-I kept thinking of what could have happened, and how I did nothing to save you, and-"

"SHUT UP, PERCY!"

He stared at me in amazement, mouth hanging open. But I had had enough.

"I am not some damsel in distress! I don't need anyone to save me! What could you possibly have done, Percy? If you had taken one step near me, Kelli would have killed me, and you. I lived, Seaweed Brain. I am here right now, and I promise you, I am not going anywhere for the next fifty years at least."

Percy sat down beside me, his cerulean eyes torn with pain. "How would I have carried on without you, Annabeth?"

I choked back a sob. His eyes revealed the true emotion behind his words, and I could see how much it cost him to be so vulnerable, to open up to me even at the risk of rejection.

I reached out and brushed his hair away from his eyes. "You won't have to, Percy. I give you my word. I'll be right by your side, driving you crazy for the rest of eternity."

Percy smiled slightly. "Right now, that sounds really good to me."

"I bet you won't think so once I get out of here," I challenged, grinning. Percy rolled his eyes. "Rest, Wise Girl. You need to get better soon."

I obeyed, slumping back against the pillows as Percy switched off the lights and leaned back in his chair.

"What are you doing?" I asked in surprise. "Do you really think I'm going to leave you alone here?" he replied softly.

"But it'll be so uncomfortable!" I protested.

Percy shrugged. "That's okay. It's just one night."

The words escaped my lips before I could stop them. "Stay here with me, then."

Percy looked puzzled, even in the dim light. "Sorry?"

"In the bed. Just sleep beside me," I offered, feeling my face turning red. I hoped he wouldn't take it the wrong way. Then again, this was Percy; the most oblivious guy I knew.

Percy hesitated. "I really don't think that would be a good idea, Wise Girl."

"Please?" I pouted. "Apollo won't mind."

Percy sighed and then got up from the chair. "You'll be the death of me someday, Annabeth Chase."

I laughed softly as he drew back the covers and climbed into the bed beside me. It didn't feel awkward at all when I rested my head on his chest. In fact, being in his arms felt just perfect.

I love this chapter so, so much better than the previous one. My dad finally unblocked FanFiction! Yay! I'm so happy, I'm dancing around the room to Britney Spears.

So you guys got Jasmine's history now, and I promise you, she is most definitely not a traitor. Nope, you'll be seeing a lot of Jasmine yet! I have a lot of plans for her and a certain half-blood…. *wicked smile*

And as always, review and tell me whatcha think!

Till next time!