I'm so sorry it took so long! My cousins were here all week so I didn't have a lot of time...and I have summer camp starting tomorrow so it could be another week or so before chapter twelve :( . Thank you "Ryan" for giving me a head start on this chapter! And a big thanks to everyone who have been reviewing, supporting, encouraging, and giving me ideas! It really means a lot! Well...enjooyyyyyyy

Thalia's POV

I tugged off my sneakers and examined my blistered feet. Ouch. I dug my toes into the soft, moist sand and sighed. We'd better find them soon.

I glanced sideways at Hazel, who was passed out on Frank's back. Her head lay perfectly on his shoulder, her arms wrapped loosely around his neck.

I wish I had somebody who would hold me like that. Luke used to hold me like that. Gods I missed him so much. Sometimes I forget that he's dead...that he was ever an enemy. He was like my brother. No, more than that. I loved Luke.

But Luke betrayed us. He betrayed Annabeth. Chiron. Grover. Me.

I thought he loved us too, Annabeth and I. The three of us had been through so much together. Luke and I practically raised Annabeth. We were like family. But his desire for revenge had meant more to him than us. He chose Kronos instead.

I shook my head. None of this mattered now. Luke was dead. I needed to move on.

"Thalia...is that..." Grover trailed off and pointed down the beach. I squinted. It looked like...Annabeth! And Percy!

I began to jog towards them. I sped up until I was sprinting down the shore. Nothing was holding me back.

"Annabeth..." I choked as we embraced. Before I knew it, we were both bawling. I held her. I didn't ever want to let her go. I can't keep coming this close to losing her. Luke is gone. She's all I have left.

I pulled away and knelt to examine Percy. "He's dying." Annabeth whispered. She cried harder.

She was right. He didn't look so good. His skin glistened with sweat. He radiated heat, and I knew he had a fever without even touching him. I peered under his makeshift bandages, and cringed at what I saw.

"Hey Thalia.." He croaked. A crooked smile played on his lips, despite his obvious pain.

"Hi Percy." I fought back tears. I'd never seen Percy this sick. "So how do you feel?"

He shrugged and then winced in pain. "Percy," I whispered so Annabeth couldn't hear. "How do you really feel?"

He sighed painfully. "Like shit."

I grinned. Leave it to Percy to play "indestructible boyfriend" in front of Annabeth. "Well you can stop trying to hide it. You're not fooling anyone." He glanced at Annabeth who was talking to Hazel and Juniper. "Especially her."

He frowned in disappointment.

Grover and Frank knelt on either side of me. "Sup Perce." Grover gave Percy a fist bump. Frank stared at the ground sadly.

"Frank? You okay?" Percy's asked concernedly.

Frank looked up sheepishly. "It's just hard seeing you like this."

"Hey, I've survived worse."

Frank smiled weakly, but didn't seem reassured. Percy stared longingly at the waves. I felt a cold wetness lap up against my feet. "Whoa..." I said looking down in confusion. I watched as the tide stretched past my bare feet and lapped up against Percy's hand.

"Sorry," He apologized. "It just helps...the pain..." He closed his eyes and sighed in temporary relief.

"Get his legs." Grover told Frank. Grover lifted Percy under the arms, careful not to touch his wound. They carried him closer to the water and set him down gently in the waves.

"Thanks...gods...that feels so much better." Percy sighed. Annabeth appeared next to him and untied his bandages, letting the tide rush over his wound. We watched in awe as the water cleansed and slowly healed the cut.

Annabeth put a hand to his forehead and announced, "He's still got a fever." A tear rolled down her cheek.

I knelt next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Annabeth look-he's getting better."

She sniffled. "But what if it's not enough?"

"This is Percy we're talking about. He always pulls through."

She nodded sadly, still unconvinced.

We waited for hours, but Percy's fever wouldn't break. Night came upon us, and we returned to the dry sand to get some sleep. Annabeth stayed by Percy's side, his head in her lap, their fingers interlocked. Thoughts of Luke crept into my mind, but I dismissed them immediately. "He's gone Thalia..." I told myself.

I sighed, curled up on the lukewarm sand, and quickly fell asleep.