Sorry for the lack of updates again. The last week of July and all of August really are the most hectic in our little world and well I just don't get to do what I want to do until it does slow down. Sorry for typos! I didn't get a chance to triple check like I wanted to!

Also, sorry for the crummy chapter. Trying to build back up to whats to come. Just couldn't keep throwing it at you like that. I appreciate the reviews! Keep leaving them and letting me know what you think!

Disclaimer : I do not own Percy Jackson, or any of the content published from Rick Riordan.

Chapter 10

Annabeth woke with a start. Something touched her abdomen right where Luke had punched her. She looked down and saw Alexa curled in a tight ball between her and Percy. Her head right where she felt the pain that woke her moments ago. She sighed and tried to sit up but now that she had not moved in hours she was beyond stiff. 'Great, now I am stuck,' she thought as she rolled just a little bit and looked at the ceiling and cringed.

She found herself drifting off again and falling into a fitful sleep. The dreams couldn't be considered dreams, they were too real and too vivid. It was more like her memories had come to life in a distorted sort of way and all she could feel was Luke all over her again. He punched her in the gut and she woke with a scream.

Percy was up before he even knew what was going on around him. All he knew was he needed to get to Annabeth. He bolted straight up and leapt off the bed and ran around to Annabeth. She was sitting up now, hugging her knees to her chest, head down and rocking as she cried. He carefully wrapped his arms around her and she startled, falling off the side of the bed into his lap as they fell to the floor.

Percy pulled her closer to him and all she could do was shudder. "Annabeth, please tell me how to help you," He whispered into the curls on the top of her head.

Annabeth simply shook her head and cried harder. She had no clue what he could do to help her right now, nor did she know if he ever could.

Annabeth sat curled up on the sofa while Percy made dinner for them. He was constantly stopping what he was doing to check on her and every time he glanced at her over the bar, she was in the same position; knees pulled to her chest, chin on knees and eyes fixed on the turned off television. There was no doubt he was worried about her. Every time he had ever seen Annabeth over the last two years and even in their last month together as a couple, she was strong, almost stoic in her ways. Since they started dating she didn't need him to get through her days, she wanted him. Now he wasn't sure what she needed.

The silence of the apartment was suddenly shattered by screams coming from him bedroom and Annabeth finally moved. She was up and headed down the hallway before he could even step out of the kitchen.

"I got this Percy. Finish dinner." And with that Annabeth was gone.

She was just entering the room when Alexa had quit screaming. She was trying desperately to catch her breath as the tears streamed down her face. Annabeth carefully sat down next to her and held her arms out to the girl to give her a hug. Alexa slowly climbed into Annabeth's lap, careful not to hit or push on any bruises from the night before. "Why do I get the feeling that you aren't telling us something?"

Alexa's breath caught in her chest and she suddenly felt like she had been punched. She didn't want anyone to know what had happened to her at that camp. She just wanted to forget everything and move on. But with Annabeth questioning her in this state, she wasn't sure she was going to be able to lie this one off.

"You don't have to tell me Alexa. I can just tell that you are leaving something out. I don't want you to tell me anything you are uncomfortable with." Annabeth was totally flying by the seat of her pants on this one. She knew that she never would have known had Poseidon not told her what the nurse found during her exam. To think that she was just going to deal with this on her own was a scary thought to Annabeth, as she was in the same boat and she wasn't even sure how to handle her situation right now.

Alexa fully broke down in Annabeth's lap. She was crying so hard she couldn't breathe and all she could do was make attempts at gasping for air but it looked more like a fish out of water just moving its mouth as it flailed around for help.

With her good hand, Annabeth gently rubbed the girl's back and tried to get her to calm down. She whispered quietly in her ear that everything would be okay and that no one would hurt her in that way ever again. Even though Annabeth wasn't exactly sure what that way was, Alexa seemed to accept the whispers and calmed but only slightly.

"Hey, do you play any instruments . . . or does your dear older brother play anything?"

Alexa sucked in a deep breath and looked at Annabeth like she was insane. "What?"

"Music helps heal the soul. I personally feel better when I can play something. It helps my anxiety. My mother showed me a technique to help me when I couldn't stop the attacks with normal methods of grounding."

Alexa had been truly startled by Annabeth's question and she almost instantly had stopped crying but she was now in that phase of a lot of snot and quick rapid breathing that made it sound like she was having an asthma attack. All she could do was shake her head no but then she stopped and cocked her head to the side, lost deep in thought. She quickly jumped out of Annabeth's lap and sucked in several deep breaths again as she made her way to Percy's closet.

She disappeared behind the door and Annabeth could hear a few things being moved around against the wall.

"Annabeth, help me!"

She got up slowly and walked into Percy's closet to find Alexa standing on a suit case reaching for something on the top shelf.

Alexa turned and looked at Annabeth, "Well, don't just stand there! I'm not tall enough," she said through large gulps of air.

Annabeth giggled and stepped behind Alexa. She stood up on tip toe and winced as the muscles in her legs screamed at her. She slowly raised both arms and her fingers landed on a large case. Her fingers grasped at the edge of the case looking for some kind of handle. She finally found it and slowly pulled the case toward them, testing the weight. She didn't want her arms to give out and drop whatever it was on top of Alexa's head.

The case was heavier than Annabeth anticipated but she managed to keep it from falling and Alexa helped by grabbing the bottom of it and supporting a good chunk of the weight. Annabeth recognized the case almost instantly now that it was in full view. She quickly took it out to the bedroom and dropped it on Percy's bed.

"Should we play in here or go out to the living room," Annabeth asked without looking up.

"Living room," Alexa answered as she sniffled and sucked in several more deep breaths.

Annabeth looked up at her and smiled sadly at her. "Go wash your face and blow your nose. Maybe not in that order though. I will go get this read in the other room."

Alexa did as she was told and Annabeth made her way to the living room with the heavy case. She carefully set it down on the floor in front of the sofa and then realized the closest plug was by the window. 'Not enough room for all of us over there,' She thought, 'but no choice really.' She pulled out the stand and opened it all of the way and set it a couple of feet in front of the chair. She then pulled out the pedals and plug and stuck them under the stand. Next was the giant keyboard. It was in pristine condition and looked like it had never been touched. She carefully pulled it out and balanced it on her legs using her good hand to keep it from falling.

Thankfully Alexa came out in time to help her lift it onto the stand. She was still gulping in deep, fast breaths of air and Annabeth hoped that this would be enough to calm her down completely. Alexa continued to watch as Annabeth quickly plugged in the keyboard and turned on the power. Annabeth quickly sat down in the chair and before pulling the keyboard closer, held out a hand to Alexa. She carefully took it as Annabeth guided her into her lap. She pulled the keyboard closer and then asked, "Do you play?"

Alexa shook her head no and replied, "Percy does."

Annabeth looked at Percy through the bar opening and smiled. He had his back to them and was still busy with whatever he was making for dinner. She carefully lifted Alexa's left hand and placed it on top of her cast. Alexa followed suit and placed her right hand on top of Annabeth's, trying carefully not to cause too much weight on her hands. Annabeth lifted her fingers to the keys and wiggled her fingers on her left hand to make sure she had enough movement and then she started to play. The lullaby her mother wrote for her poured out of her fingers and she felt Alexa relax completely in her.

Percy had occupied himself with dinner so much that he never heard the girls move into the living room. He wanted to check on Alexa but he figured that if Annabeth really needed him she would have come to him for help.

All of the trauma since the hit and run was beginning to take its toll on him. He looked down at his cast and bandaged hand and wondered how he got here. It wasn't like Percy to have an angry bone in his body but something in him just snapped. He sighed and went back to watching the chicken he was frying. Last thing he wanted was a burned dinner though it would match his mood at the moment.

He knew how he could help Alexa, so her issues, while at the forefront of him mind were not what he was worried about. Annabeth was his main concern and not just because he was sleeping with her. He could see it in her eyes and on her face when he touched her. She didn't seem to mind Alexa being clingy at the moment but he knew she was having a hard time with him and it pained his heart.

Percy finished the chicken and checked on the other sides he made and then turned the stove off. He was about to head to his room to get the girls but he stopped suddenly as he heard the keyboard come to life in the living room. The breath he just took caught in his chest and was frozen on the spot.