Hi. I was looking at the reviews fort his story and the others and I just got so thankful. Thank you all so much for reading my stories and waiting for chapters and continuing to say nice things. If you were a reader of Back to the Beginning, again I'm so sorry. I hate disappointing you guys but I'm so glad you all understand and thank you for reading In My Place. I love you guys.

Sora Loves Rain: I know! Gabe is scary… Thanks for reviewing!

Clo7615: Thanks so much!

ZeynepD: I'm so glad you think so! Thank you so much for saying (or writing) that!

MarshmallowSkies: Thanks! I liked that part too ;)

~o0o~

Gabe lumbered down the stairs. In his hands was a bottle.
"Is he…?" I asked.

Percy grimaced then nodded. "I think so." He scooted impossibly close to me so that our legs, hips and shoulders were touching. "Don't do or say anything to make him mad and do not let him come within hitting or even touching distance." Percy whispered in my ear. I nodded.

"Well." Gabe said when he reached the bottom of the stairs. "Aren't you two just adorable." His words were slurred and his clothes disheveled. Percy grabbed my hand and pulled on it as Gabe started stumbling towards us. We slowly scooted backwards.

"Percy Jackson." Gabe said. "Always trying to sneak away." He laughed. "You can't escape me this time, boy." He pulled a black object out of the waistband of his pants. I inhaled sharply. Percy squeezed my hand.
"Don't like guns much Ms. Chase?" he asked. "Sally was never very fond of them either. Especially not after I almost shot her and your boy Percy." In the corner of my eye I saw Percy trying to keep a straight face but failing miserably. Luckily Gabe was too drunk to notice Percy fuming. Gabe took another step in our direction and Percy pulled on my hand again so that I would move behind him.

"Trying to save your Girlyfriend are you?" Gabe waved the gun around before pointing it towards us. Well, more like Percy since he was in front of me. "Get up." Percy slowly stood, pulling me with him. His other hand was up as if to show that he wasn't planning anything. I gripped his arm tightly and he squeezed my hand.

"Gabe…" he said slowly. "Please, put down the gun."

Gabe laughed and shook his head. "You ruined my life. Give me one reason I shouldn't shoot you right now."

"I- I don't-" Percy started.

"That would be too quick." I cut in. Percy looked at me with an alarmed expression on his face. "He took everything you had, right? Well then a simple gunshot through the head would be too merciful, don't you think?"

Gabe pondered over it for a minute before smiling again. "You're right. I won't kill you." Percy and I sighed in relief. "But." He said. "But that doesn't mean I can't hurt you." He took another step towards us.

Percy turned to me and wrapped me in his arms but his eyes never left Gabe. Every time Gabe stepped forward Percy and I stepped back until we hit the wall.
"Nowhere to hide now." Gabe said as he aimed the gun.

Percy turned to me fully and pulled me tightly against him. His breath was hot against my ear when he whispered, "When I say now, duck." I nodded slightly. I knew the reason he was hugging me was so that he could whisper that in my ear- but I couldn't help it when I hugged him back.
Funny how things work out isn't it? Here I am hugging the boy I used to call my enemy and pretty much trusting him with my life. If someone told me a week ago that this would be happening I would've laughed at them and told them to go to a therapist.

I gripped the back of Percy's shirt and he pulled me impossibly closer to him. I heard the click of a safety being turned off. "Now." Percy and I ducked as the wall where we'd just stood cracked with the force of a bullet. I automatically covered my head with my arms as the excess of the bullet rained down on us. Percy grabbed my hand and we ran for the small toilet on the other side of the room, crouching when Gabe tried to shoot us. Percy pushed me down behind the toilet and crouched behind me.

"When he runs out of bullets," he said. "He'll leave." I was aware that he had moved one of his hands to my hip. His face was right next to mine.

"Are you sure?" I turned my head slightly. The smile Percy gave me was hauntingly sad.

"Pretty sure."

Gabe shot the wall above us three more times before it stopped. I heard footsteps and a door close. I looked at Percy questioningly. He moved toward the edge of the toilet and peaked around the corner.

"He's gone." Percy said standing up. He slowly walked away from the toilet but he didn't get far until a gunshot sounded and he stumbled backwards clutching his shoulder. I yelled his name and ran to his side.

"Oh my gods, Percy." I said clutching his arm.

He groaned. "Annabeth…"

"Here lay down." I helped him to the floor. His shoulder was bleeding badly and he winced when he laid down. "Alright Percy I'm going to take your shirt off now." I carefully took it off and put it to the side. The wound looked worse now that there was no fabric covering it. I looked around. I needed water. I crawled to the tray where the cups and half a loaf of uneaten bread were still laying. I sighed as I tipped the cups over. Empty. I turned around when I heard Percy mumble my name.

"Annabeth…" I rushed back to his side.

"I'm here."

"The… the toilet." He said weakly.

The toilet. I grabbed a plastic cup and ran to it. The water looked clean enough and it was my only chance. I filled the small cup with the toilet water and went back to Percy's side. His eyes were closed and his breathing seemed labored.

"Percy. Percy stay with me." I said. His eyes opened again. "I need to dig the bullet out. It's gonna hurt, okay?" he nodded. I took a deep breath before sticking two fingers in his wound and trying to get the bullet. Percy cried out in pain and I winced but didn't stop until I felt the cold metal of a bullet beneath my fingers. I quickly pulled it out as Percy yelled again.

"Oh god." I said. I took the cup filled with water and drizzled some on the wound to which Percy groaned. "I am so sorry Percy." I took off the sweater I'd been wearing and tore it in pieces. I wrapped it around his shoulder as best as I could. There was a sheen of sweat on Percy's forehead.

"Annabeth…" Percy mumbled. He reached for my hand and I took it. His hand was clammy, but I didn't mind.

"I'm right here Percy."

"Annabeth… remember in kindergarten when," he paused to take a breath. "When I took your crayons? And I ruined your lego model of The Empire State?"

I put my hand against his cheek. "Percy you have a fever…"

"No. No let me finish." His breath was heavy. "I'm sorry Wise Girl." I smiled softly at the old nickname he gave me when we were little.

"I forgive you Seaweed Brain. Now go to sleep." I brushed some hair out of his eyes. He squeezed my hand weakly and I squeezed his back.
"Go to sleep."

~o0o~

Hey! Sorry for the wait. I don't know about y'all but I have VACATION! If you don't… good luck with school. I don't have like summer vacation… it's only a week but it's enough.

Thanks for reading!

I love you guys and… review!

-DaughterofPoseidon34