There should have been one line in the last chapter that gave away who Percy's boss is. Anyway, the chapter after this should fix the loose ends.

I lead such a sad life… I typed the first two paragraphs perfectly without once looking at the keyboard. If I mess up, I'm blaming it on Dota, the song I'm currently listening to… Not like any of you cared anyway.

Percy booked it back to base, reaching with twenty minutes to spare before the entrance was gated for the night. The night was unusual quiet as not a single marine was in sight. His stomach growled to remind him of his dinnerless night.

The mess hall would still have something there, right? If not dinner, a bowl of corn flakes would suffice for Percy. Sleeping on an empty stomach, on the other hand, was a big no.

As he walked in direction of the mess, his thoughts wandered back to the conversation he had just had with Nico di Angelo. Percy's foot absentmindedly kicked at a pebble in his path in frustration at the thought of the other man.

So, the man had done him a favor by drugging Annabeth, but…Now suspicion was going to be thrown on him. After all, many people had witnessed Percy punching Annabeth full on. That wouldn't be taken lightly too. They knew he would have some connection behind her coma, a connection that they would most likely not forget.

Percy sighed; how the hell had he gotten himself into this mess? It was all that bastard Nico's fault. But deep inside, Percy knew even Nico wasn't the one to blame. It was his boss. As much as he anticipated the conversation the next day, he dreaded it. This man exercised enough control on his men even without directly contacting them. How would he be if he actually talked to them directly?

He found the doors locked to the mess hall. Percy groaned in despair as he tugged once more on the door handles. He sat against the door dejectedly. He knew there were people inside as the lights were still turned on; perhaps it was the cleaning crew.

"You alright there?" a voice spoke up from the darkness. Percy had to squint to make out the figure approaching him. The light from inside the mess hall reflected back on the man in front of him: Major Luke Castellan.

Percy stood up and dusted off his pants as he addressed his superior, "It's nothing. Just a little disappointed that the dining hall is already closed for the night."

Luke chuckled a little, "Haven't you gotten their open hours schedule yet? They are quite adherent to it and not willing to work a single second over time."

Percy merely shook his head in rejoinder, "I had no clue."

"So, I presume you just got back?" Luke continued.

"Excuse me?"

"From visiting Anna—Captain Chase?" he quickly corrected himself, reminding himself not to express familiarities in regards to her, but it was too late. Percy had caught the little slip, his mind registering the significant detail for later.

"Mrs. Arnolds told me to go to Greenville Memorial Hospital for forms and liability issues. So, I went and checked up on her."

"Any status?"

Percy wasn't going to tell him about Nico di Angelo's partaking in the incident. In fact, even Nico wasn't quite sure how long the blond haired captain would be in a coma for. He settled for the simple answer, "They're not sure how long it will take for her to recover."

Luke nodded once understandingly. "Strong punch you got there," he noted.

"Training," Percy shrugged.

"Here?" Luke raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Should he mention it? This would be a good way to judge his reaction, see if it triggers anything from him. Besides, it couldn't hurt if Annabeth knew already. It might add something to his credibility if anything. "I trained with the Navy first," he finally said after much internal debate.

As Percy had anticipated, he got exactly the reaction he had expected. Luke's eyes widened until they seemed to be bugging out of his face. There were no traces of his calm and composure on his face from a second ago. He looked de-masked as he quickly tried to fix the shocked look on his face.

Percy knew something had clicked inside the major's mind to cause him to completely lose composure like that. He had remembered something. The whole incident was clearly not evident yet, otherwise there should have been fear in his eyes.

More than fear, it was as though Percy had triggered an unpleasant memory, the details still hazy. Luke managed to control his emotions as he spoke, the slight undertone of his shaken surprise still visible, "You were in the Navy?"

"Yes…"

"Might I ask your reason for transfer?"

"I got bored."

"You got bored… You call that a reason for transfer?" Major Castellan asked with incredulity.

Percy merely shrugged his shoulders, "Why not? I'm still serving my country which is more than what most people do. I wasn't all that pleased with the leadership in my company, so I figured this was the next best."

"You don't regret it? Going through training again?"

"No, not at all. To be truthful, it's been two years since I left. It's nice to be able to get back in shape again."

Luke's eyes betrayed his curiosity as Percy continued, feeding him the same lie he had fed Annabeth a week earlier, "I stayed at home tending to my mother. She's a cancer patient."

"Oh," Luke's curiosity fell to something more befitting, a look of sympathy.

"Anyway Major, I think people will start having doubts if I keep missing all my trainings," Percy made a motion to leave.

Luke glanced at his watch, "They should be letting out of evening practice in about ten minutes. I wouldn't say it's worth your time going. One last thing, Jackson. Are you planning on visiting Annabeth tomorrow?"

"Hm, I was thinking about it. I feel responsible for it all."

"Don't worry about it. Just focus on your training. I'll go pay her a visit in your place," Luke offered. To Percy's ears, it sounded more like an order than an offer.

"No!" he said on sudden impulse.

Luke looked at him in surprise at the outburst. Percy quickly backtracked to explain himself as he lied smoothly, "By the time I had arrived, visiting hours were almost over. I still have some forms to fill out."

The Major looked at him curiously, deciding what to say first, "You are one dedicated man, Jackson. One truly dedicated man. I will see you at training tomorrow. And just for future reference, there is a stash of instant noodles in the barracks' cupboard."

Percy waited until the man was gone, releasing a sigh of relief. The tension still remained in the air from their encounter. If he wanted something to happen, he had to act fast. Fast before Luke began to react in retaliation. Fast before Luke could piece the whole puzzle together.

This chapter was probably horrible, but I'm still recovering from my cold.

Anyway, leave a review, fave, or follow.

Also, a quick poll. I was planning on writing a Dramione or Harmony story, most likely on a Dramione marriage. Any thoughts? Percabeth is the only canon pairing I support.

~TJ