So, this is pretty much the third chapter of the sequel of Prosperity of Life. I intended to post this story on Sunday or Monday, but because of my horrible internet for the past few days, I could only post today. Please enjoy this chapter and tell what do you think of it.

Percy stared dolefully at the ground, his eyes disoriented and full of rage. He was confused, irritated and impatient. He ran his hands through his hair tensely, muttering incoherent words under his breath. His mind flew about hundred miles per minute, leaping around theories or hunches of who that mysterious caller was.

Many questions appeared in his mind, and he felt his head pound painfully. "Ugh." He cringed sourly, gently soothing his temples. His eyes were weary, and he felt his blood surge through his veins. He was unable to stand the smell of antiseptic that was wafting in the room.

"When can I leave this damn room?" He muttered angrily, his hands tensely fiddling with the blanket wrapped around his legs.
"Soon Mr. Jackson." A voice echoed through the room. His head snapped, trying to identify the mysterious voice. Seeing a figure in the shadows, he narrowed his eyes, noting that it was a woman.
"I'm sorry. But who are you?" He asked, uncomfortably sitting up, feeling a rush of pain drive up his arm and ribs.
"You gotta rest Perce." The woman spoke up worriedly, rushing over to his side.
His eyes widened as he was faced with a woman with bright blue eyes and light auburn hair.
"S-Sue?" He spluttered out in surprise. She smiled, awkwardly grabbing a chair nearby and sitting near his bedside.
"Hey." She whispered uncomfortably, brushing her hair nervously.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in Rome?" He asked, chewing on his lower lip.
"Yeah... I came back cause I heard that you were hurt. How are you doing?" She asked, solicitously placing her hand on his arm and squeezing it gently.
"Yeah, Yeah, I'm fine." He told her quick, pulling his arm away nervously.
"Why would you come here, Sue? I mean, after what happened, I thought you never wanted to see me again."
She sighed. "Even though things didn't end properly between us, I still care about you Percy."
He felt his mind flashback, a moment that seemed like a lifetime ago. He remembered feeling sadness but happiness for the one he loved.
"Do you have to leave?" Percy asked dejectedly, seeing his girlfriend twiddle her thumbs unconsciously.
"I have to Percy, I can't let this opportunity go. I've been waiting for this job offer for a long, long time." She told him, sadly staring at his sea-green eyes.
He sighed, nodding his head understandingly. He knew that she wanted this job badly, it was sorta her dream job. "I know, but still, why?" He whined, as his shoulders slumped down.

"I really wish we could continue this relationship longer, I really do, but you know how long term relationships go." She answered back quietly, sliding her fingers through his.
"But maybe we could make this work. Half the people who have long term relationships made it work. I'm sure we can do the same." He argued reasonably.
She closed her eyes and pursed her lips, because she knew he was right. "What happens if I go there and I find a guy a like? And you
 find a girl you love more than me?... It would end badly, and I still want us to be friends. I would miss being your friend." She replied, her eyes burning with tears. As he opened his mouth to speak, she interjected, silencing him.
"It's for the best Percy." She told him gently, her eyes soft and blurred with tears.
There was a loud ring, and it was followed by an announcement by an overly perky flight attendant.
"Will passengers for the flight to Rome please make their way to Gate 3?" The intercom blared loudly across the whole terminal.
"Well, that's my flight." Sue answered back, reluctantly standing up and pulling up the handle of her luggage. Percy stood up, awkwardly shoving his hands into his pockets. "So.. Guess this is it hu-!" he was interrupted as she dove in, giving him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'll miss you." she whispered in his ear. She pulled away and grabbed her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder. And with one last glance, she grabbed her luggage and quickly strode away, unable to turn back and look at him anymore.
He stood alone around a large terminal, seeing his now ex-girlfriend walk into the gate, and he was left, brokenhearted.
Like a rubber band snapping into place, he felt himself return to the present.
"How's work?" He asked absentmindedly, his eyes staring blankly at her.
She scratched the back of her neck, nervousness seeping into her. "That's kinda why I'm here. I was sent here by my chief district, to investigate the kidnapping of your girlfriend." She replied hesitantly.
"But why would you be involved here? You're supposed to be situated in Rome." He asked, a perplexed expression across his face.
"I was transferred back here four years ago." She whispered meekly as he stared at her in surprise, as if he couldn't believe it. Then, in a jolt, he was puzzled why she was assigned to Annabeth's case, when David was already appointed to the case.

"But why are you assigned to Annabeth's case?" He asked curiously, his eyes penetrating through her cool façade. She twiddled her thumbs nervously, as she shrugged tensely. "Interesting case?" She lied, her voice rising up slightly. He shot her contemplative look as she sighed, leaning back onto the cramped steel chair. "You're a horrible liar, Sue." He commented dryly, as she smiled embarrassedly.

"Good to know that you haven't changed." He answered honestly, leaning back on his recently fluffed up pillow. "It's good to that you haven't changed either Percy." She mumbled quietly.

"So why are you assigned to this case?" He asked again, irritated that she wasn't answering any of his questions. She tried to avoid his gaze as she looked around, finding the flowerpot near his bed more interesting.

But she felt his gaze stay on her, and it felt more intensive than before. She sighed in defeat, looking back to him as she rubbed her temples wearily. "David resigned from the case, leaving me to take it over."

"What?" He asked loudly. Why would he do that? He thought, his curiosity peaked. "Why?" He asked shortly, expecting an answer.

"I can't tell you why. It's against FBI handbook. But, Chief Gallifery has made an exception, letting you know some parts of the case." She pointed out to him, giving him a small smile.

"That's strange, but sure." He muttered.

"Alright. Let's get started, shall we?" She asked, pulling out a manila folder out of her sling bag. Flipping it open, she scanned through the pages, finding a picture of a young man, heavily tattooed that was angrily scowling at the camera. She slipped up the photo passing out the photo to him.

"Do you recognize him at all?" She asked as he stared at the photo, his gaze intense and focused.

"N-" Suddenly, he felt his mind flashback, suddenly remembering he saw a tattoo at the side of the man who kidnapped Annabeth, but it was such a small detail, that even his memory failed to remember.

"….Wait!" He spoke up excitedly, as he pointed at the tattooed tiger on to the side of the man's neck. She peered over, furrowing her eyebrows as she pointed at the tattoo.

"This one?" She asked for confirmation. He nodded, explaining how he recognized the tattoo.

"I saw it on the neck of the man who attacked Annabeth! He didn't cover his neck that well, but it was such a small thing, I forgot about it!" He explained quickly as Sue marked the tattoo on the man's neck.

"Who's that man anyway?" He asked, seeing her place the photo back into the folder. As she skimmed through, she considered if she should tell him or not. But reluctantly, she decided to let him know.

"This is Carson Manson, convicted criminal and involved in several kidnappings and….murder."

"What?" He shouted aloud, feeling a sharp sting go up his body. He grunted as he readjusted his position. "How could the FBI let him out?" He asked incredulously, gripping seamlessly onto the blanket wrapped around his legs.

"The FBI didn't let him out Percy! He escaped!" She explained sternly, her eyebrows knitted tightly together.

"…." His eyebrows sank down slightly as he kept quiet, for he knew that he had jumped to conclusions. She shook her head, mumbling her breath that it was ok, as she sent a quick text to her partner to find about Carson Manson. He glanced at her, his face distorted in curiousness.

"…I'm sorry." He told her quietly, a meek expression that swept across his face quickly. He felt his cheeks rise up in embarrassment, awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

Suddenly, a loud beep erupted in the room, and he stared at Sue, who was briskly talking on the phone, surprise written across her face. "What? You found him?" She disclaimed loudly in shock, her eyes widening as Percy heard a deep voice talk quickly.

"I'll be right there!" She shouted, pressing the end button on her phone, and shoving the light device into her pocket as she promptly stood up.

"What is it?" He asked eagerly, getting up from his bed, feeling a sharp pain run up his ribs. He whipped back in pain, as his fingers wrapped around the thick bandages. "Damn!" He winced bitterly, his fingers gripping tightly on the laceration on his side.

Biting his lips in anguish, he managed to splutter out what he asked previously. Sue sadly stared at him, gently pushing him back down onto his bed. "They found Carson. He was driving in a stolen vehicle in north side of New York."

"Was Annabeth in the car?" He asked hopefully, half relieved and half afraid of the news that might come out her mouth. She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose in consternation, feeling a sharp pain zoom about.

"Unfortunately… no. We found several rolls of duct tape, a rope, a small bag of mack and an unregistered gun." She informed in quickly, pushing him back down again as he tried to stand up. "You've gotta let me come with you!" He shouted defensively, gritting his teeth tightly.

"No, Percy. You have to stay here and rest."

"What! Annabeth could be in trouble! You found a gun on him!" He shouted angrily, his fingers twisting the blanket in knots.

She didn't respond to him as she pulled open the door and striding out, slamming the door loudly. And Percy was left alone, again.

Sue strode in quickly from the precinct's elevator, swerving and avoiding busy officers dashing left and right to check files, answer calls and get a horrible cup of coffee. She was used to the buzz about in bullpen; it was an everyday routine for her. Quickly, she grabbed the file near her table and made her to an interrogation room, where a focused looking young man paced left and right in front of the door.

"Reins." She greeted him, as he looked up, flashing her a quick smile. They slid into the room, seeing the white washed walls surrounding a large steel desk with three chairs. There was a large mirror behind the chairs, a one way glass looking into the room.

Surprisingly, the suspect was cool and collected, with a proud smirk across his face. Next to him was an appointed attorney, Kate Vinceret, a hard core and stern lawyer of the both sat down, as Sue sorted through the file, bringing out several photos of young women, their eyes blank and their necks red and blotchy.

As she laid out the evidence found in the car, Carson smugly started chewing on his piece of gum loudly, leaning back as he spoke up. "How long is this going to take?" He grinned, showing his slightly yellow teeth.

"Mr. Manson, Care to tell me why there are small bags of mack found in your stolen car?" She asked sternly, jerking her finger at the small white bags.

He should his head, placing his arm on the chair as he folded his legs. "Nah, that ain't mine. I was….Uh…holdin' it for a friend." He lied smoothly, his cool façade not cracking at all. It was no surprise that he was calm in this environment, after he was arrested several times. But Sue was determined to catch him in the act, because she believed that every crime committed, it will be unveiled sooner or later. And for her, the sooner, the better.

"Was this gun also held for this friend?" She asked sharply, holding up the gun in the evidence bag. He smiled, nodding his head. He pointed his finger at her and grinned slyly. "I like her. Smart woman." He commented as she disgustingly rolled her eyes.

"Could you explain why a witness saw this tattoo on your neck, when you kidnapped Annabeth Chase?"

He smiled, shaking his head. "Unjustifiable. This witness could've been hallucinating."

She smiled sarcastically back, irritated that she could not get him to break. "Where were you at, at the time of 3:45 PM?"

"At Don's Bar, drinking beer with my buddies, you can ask them if you'd like."

"Yes. I will."

"And how can you explain the rope and duct tape?" She asked inconspicuously. He smiled, showing his yellow teeth. "I'm using it to fix a broken antenna on the roof. The rope was to help me climb up."

"And why couldn't you use a ladder?" She asked in a sour tone.

Suddenly, a loud knock came from the door behind them, and a large, bald man stuck his head in. "Agent Stevesen, may I have a word with you?"

Reluctantly, she stood up, leaving Agent Reins to interrogate him. She stepped out quickly, and looked straight into her commanding chief, Jim Gallifery. "What is it, sir?" She asked. She saw him look slightly irritated and bitter as he spoke up.

"His alibi checks out. A friend 'confirmed' that he was there at the bar. Says that they were pretty preoccupied."

'Damn.' She whispered to herself angrily. She let a big sigh of disappointment as she strode to the door, her hand on the handle. "I guess we have to let him go. We can't detain him any longer, can we?"

The chief nodded grimly, and turned, his back facing her. Careful and prideful, he strode back into his office.

"….You're free to go after you sign some papers." She sighed, gesturing Agent Reins to step of out the room.

Twenty minutes later….

As detectives led Carson and his lawyer away, Sue saw an unfamiliar sight. Percy was sitting their silently, his arm in a sling and his face sour and contorted in anger. He kept it bottled inside of him for a very long time, and he was ready to release it. He stood up, his eyes trained hard on Carson. He walked up, and very quickly, kicked, lashed and punched at Carson, as other officers pried Percy off of him.

Carson smiled meanly, seemingly to enjoy this. "You think you can hit me? You barely look like you can walk. Looks like the fella that beat you up was pretty nasty."

"You're the man who beat me up, you son of a bitch!" He spat out angrily, trying to lash out as the officers held him back. Carson laughed, clapping his hands. "You're crazy." He told him harshly, spinning his finger around his temple.

Suddenly feeling limp, Percy felt himself loosen, as if all of his hope was lost. To him, it was. And it crumbled, fast.

"Let go of me!" He protested, pulling hard away from the officers. He felt another gush of pain rise up his arm and ribs as he glared icily at Carson. As he walked away, shaking his head in amusement, Percy was fast. He threw two quick punches and Carson fell immediately. A loud commotion rumbled around the bullpen, as Sue dashed in front, grabbing Percy by his good arm.

"Are you crazy?" She whispered angrily, as he pulled away from her grip. "Am I crazy? You should speak to the man who kidnapped my girlfriend!" He disclaimed loudly, jerking his thumbs towards Carson.

"You should put the insane people in a different room, Agent Stevesen." He said.

"Shut up, you asshole!" Percy shouted, his voice ringing through the room. Everyone was quiet, and all eyes were on them. Feeling self conscious, Sue demanded everyone to return to what they were doing.

"Get Carson out of here!" She commanded sternly, waving her hand to the elevator. Hurriedly, the two burly and tall officers led him out, as he shot Percy a light smile, as if he had won.