Hey Guys :) I'm so freakin sorry for being so late. I guess I just lost the inspiration for what to write. So this is the next chapter. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, which is not a very many, but anyway, here ya go.

6. Blackjack

When Percy woke up, he saw the most beautiful girl sitting by his side. "Annabeth," he smiled at the daughter of Athena. "Hey sleepy head, how're you doing?" Annabeth asked. "Fine, I guess. I'm just happy to be alive," he replied.

"I think I'll go for a swim. I'll feel better after that," Percy said and got off the bed. His legs wobbled and Annabeth caught him and slung his hand over her shoulder. "I'll take you to the docks, Seaweed Brain," she said and the happy couple moved out of Cabin 3 to the docks.

Percy jumped into the water as soon as they reached there and sighed, feeling at home in his element. "You stay here, I'll go give the others a hand," Annabeth said as she saw the serene smile on Percy's face.

"Ok, bye," he said and they leaned forward for a kiss. Annabeth left Percy to his thoughts with a goofy smile on her face. Percy spent quite an amount of time inside the water and was even visited by his father.

They hung out for a while and then Poseidon went back to his kingdom. Percy got out of the water few minutes later and decided to find Annabeth. He bumped into Clarisse on the way back.

"Jackson, I recommend you go to the stables if you want to protect your fellow campers," she said. Percy bristled up, "What's wrong? Who got hurt?" he fired questions. "Relax, aqua boy. It's your horse. He's refusing to let anyone near him," Clarisse replied.

Percy nodded and then made his way to the stables. He could hear neighs coming from there and Jason running out. Once he saw Percy, he said, "I do not want to get knocked out again. Manage that horse of yours," and walked off.

Percy smiled and went inside the stables to see that Blackjack was a mess. Boss! You really are alive! Thank Poseidon! The pegasus exclaimed. "Of course I'm back. Now would you mind explaining why you knocked Jason out and refused to be groomed by anyone?" Percy asked the black stallion.

They do it all wrong, the stallion whined. "Alright, let's go boy, I'm gonna clean you up," Percy said, leading Blackjack out of his stable. Blackjack shook his mane and galloped as he walked out.

Percy smiled at him and led him to the lake, bringing Blackjack's grooming tools with him. Percy bathed Blackjack and dried him. This is refreshing boss. The others don't know how to groom he said, moaning.

Percy smiled at his horse and hugged his muzzle. "I'm here now, buddy and I'm not going anywhere," he reassured the horse. The horse nipped at Percy. "OW, what was that for?" Percy asked, rubbing his arm.

Blackjack exhaled angrily. That's for making us think you were freaking dead! Why do all your ideas have to be so deadly! Do you know how depressed I was? Even your girlfriend for that matter! Blackjack yelled out to Percy.

Percy winced. "I'm sorry, but I had to do something." You didn't have to do anything. We both know most campers here would be willing to help you in any way they can, even give up their life for you, Blackjack snorted.

"Exactly! And shouldn't I reciprocate?" Percy asked the horse.

You've reciprocated enough. You have saved so many people! Mortals, demigods, gods and even monsters! You saved me!

"I did that because I could! I could help them with my powers. And, saving the gods, I had no choice in that. It was either save them or the world gets destroyed. It's the same now, Blackjack. I caused that earthquake to ensure no one else died that day."

You are an idiot, boss. The demigods could've taken them on. It's not like they haven't fought a war before.

"Yes, but so many died. Silena, Beckendorf, Luke, Michael, Lee, Castor and they are just the ones I knew."

Its war, boss. There are bound to be some casualties. Blackjack said, exasperated.

Percy smiled at his horse wryly, "Exactly, Blackjack, and I was one of them. But I'm back now, buddy and I am not going anywhere. So save that paranoia for when I'm in some real danger.

The horse shook his head, knowing that his master was a very, very stubborn kid. Percy smiled at Blackjack's silence and continued to wash him off. Oh yea, right there, boss, Blackjack said when Percy reached a spot, arching his back against Percy's hand.

"Is that good, buddy?" Percy asked, brushing Blackjack's agile sleek body in the water. Blackjack neighed in acquiescence. "Alright, Blackjack, let's get you out and dry you," Percy said and got Blackjack out of the lake.

Blackjack shook most of the water out of his body and Percy dried the rest using a towel. "How do you feel now, bud?" Percy asked. So clean. I can think clearly now. Thanks, boss. Blackjack replied.

Percy smiled and stroked the horse's muzzle. Blackjack nuzzled Percy's hand, content. "Do you want to go back to the stables?" Percy asked. Do you see Chiron in the stables? Blackjack asked Percy. It was the same question he had asked when Annabeth had gotten kidnapped.

Percy looked up at his horse in confusion. "Then why were you staying in the stables all this time?" he asked. Blackjack neighed and flapped his wings. That's different boss. One, I was hurt and two, I was grief stricken the horse replied.

"Hurt? Where? How?" Percy asked. Blackjack grinned sheepishly, After you died, I did some reckless flying and flew into a tree. Broke my wing on the branch. So the campers got me into the stables and Annabeth fed me nectar and ambrosia. But after that no one came around and I didn't let anyone near me.

"So is your wing alright now?" Percy asked. Yup, all fine, Blackjack replied. "So why didn't you leave then?" Percy asked. Everyone deemed that I was too unstable to be on my own, Blackjack replied.

"Alright, you're dry now, why don't you take a flight," Percy said. Blackjack bent down indicating that he wanted Percy to get on top of him. "Alright, buddy," Percy said and got onto his horse.

"Why don't we fly by Annabeth and tell her that we are going out for a while," Percy told Blackjack. Blackjack neighed in agreement and they both flew to the pavilion. Annabeth and the others were just done with cleaning when Percy swooped in on Blackjack.

"Hey, you came," Annabeth smiled. "I just wanted to tell you that Blackjack and I are going to fly for a while. I'll see you soon, okay," Percy told her, bending down from his horse to give her a peck on her lips.

Annabeth smiled, "Just be careful," she said. "Always am," Percy replied, twirling his pen between his fingers. And then they took off. "This is so exhilarating. I missed this so much, buddy," Percy yelled over the sound of the wind whooshing past him.

I know, boss. I missed this too . . . a lot. You sent that letter when you were in Tartarus. Connor found it and read it to the camp before giving it to Rachel. I was so afraid you were never going to make it back that I prayed to all the Gods. Even to the wine dude.

The other pegasi were really erratic, I managed to calm them down, but I was so so afraid that I used have really horrible nightmares about you dying a very gruesome death. And then I saw you dying in front of my eyes and I snapped and I couldn't get out of my grief stricken haze, Blackjack said.

"Blackjack . . ." Percy was speechless. You don't have to say anything. You are alive and well now and that's all that matters. You are the best boss. Now, where do you wanna go? Blackjack asked.

Percy thought for a while but then decided to leave it to Blackjack. "Surprise me," he told his favorite pegasus. Blackjack neighed and picked up speed and the duo sped through the blue skies.

When they landed, it was in a beach . . . in Montauk. "How did you know about this place?" Percy asked, surprised. He saw a voice call out to him and instantly turned around, riptide in sword form.

"Let's not be hasty now, shall we. You wouldn't want to accidentally kill your mother," Sally Jackson said, calmly. "Mom? How? Was this all orchestrated somehow?" Percy asked, speechless as he capped his sword.

Blackjack nudged Percy affectionately. I heard your mom say she was going to Montauk for some time to take a break. The satyr told me an address and here we are, Blackjack said. For the second time in the day, Blackjack had made Percy Jackson speechless again.

Percy hugged his mom tightly, relishing the fact that he was alive and well and everything was normal and alright as they could be for a demigod. Blackjack, when we are getting back to camp, I'm going to get you some donuts, buddy, Percy thought to himself.

Blackjack's thoughts startled him, no need, boss. I'm happy to do this for ya.

Gods, I keep forgetting you can hear me as well, Percy directed to Blackjack. Blackjack just neighed and galloped at that.

"Mom, do you wanna ride on a pegasus?" Percy asked his mom with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Sure, what can go wrong," Sally replied. "Mom, don't jinx it!" Percy exclaimed and helped Sally get up onto Blackjack.

They flew a while without any incidents happening and Percy gave himself a pat on the back for that. The trio landed back on the beach near Sally's cabin and mother and son got off of Blackjack, laughing happily.

"That was so much fun, Percy. I wonder how you don't take your pegasus everywhere you go," Sally said after she had composed herself. "His name is Blackjack. Besides, Blackjack is more of a free spirit. He comes when I call him and I don't want to get struck out of the sky either," he said.

"Right, I forgot about Zeus," Sally replied. "Don't let him hear you say that," Percy told his mom. Unfortunately, Percy was still a demigod, a son of the Big Three and staying in a place for long, coupled with the scent of the ocean was bound to cause a few problems.

Said problems arrived when Percy looked up at the sky and saw a huge crowd of birds flying in his direction. He scrunched his eyebrows and squinted to get a better look. Unfortunately, they weren't birds at all. They were wild harpies.

Percy's eyes widened once he realized that, "Mom, go inside! Hide. Take Blackjack with you," he issued order. Sally nodded, she knew that Percy knew what he was doing and turned to pull the pegasus along with her.

Blackjack galloped and threw a fit and made it impossible for Sally Jackson to drag him in. "Blackjack, you have to leave," Percy yelled at the pegasus as he saw the harpies dive and head towards them.

I watched you die once boss. I'm not leaving, Blackjack stood his ground. Percy shook his head, "Mom, go in, now," he said and Sally went back to find shelter. Though it hurt her to leave her son alone, she knew her staying with him would only be more trouble for him.

The harpies circled over Percy's head as Percy swung his sword at them, but every time he swung his sword, the harpies flew away. Percy got on to Blackjack and fought the harpies with them. Blackjack dodged their pecks while Percy disintegrated them to monster dust.

But they weren't quick enough. When they were descending back to the ground, a lone harpy swooped out of nowhere just to claw through Blackjack's sleek body. The horse whinnied in pain in midair and their descent was not smooth.

Percy finished off the last harpy as they fell to the ground. Blackjack's breath was labored, tears coming from his eyes. Percy's mom ran to them as she saw the battle end. Percy's face was tear stricken as dug into his pants and got out a small square of ambrosia and a drachma.

He tried to feed Blackjack the ambrosia but Blackjack refused because Percy was just as much as hurt as him with scratches all over his body. Sally went back to her cabin and came running out with her handbag.

"I kept this for emergencies in case something happened to you," she said and pulled out a small flask of nectar and gave it to Percy. He dripped some ambrosia down the pegasus's cuts and made Blackjack drink some of it.

Then Percy created a rainbow with the help of his powers and threw in the drachma. "O Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering. Show me Nico di Angelo, Camp Half Blood," he said, his throat constricting.

The nectar didn't make Blackjack any better. He was still on the ground wheezing and breathing slowly, his heart beating faintly. Nico's face materialized on the rainbow. He was with Will Solace.

"Percy?" he asked surprised as he looked at the older demigod's tear stained face. Percy struggled to speak, "It's Blackjack. He's dying. . . . Send Mrs. O'Leary immediately," he said and swiped at the rainbow, kneeling beside Blackjack and slowly stroking his muzzle.

Percy felt pain all over his body. His adrenaline had faded and he felt everything. The pain was unbearable, but he had to stay awake for Blackjack and for his mom who was standing beside him helplessly with a hand on his shoulder.

Mrs. O'Leary jumped out of a shadow and knelt down. Percy threw Blackjack on her back and got up her himself. The hellhound backed up and ran into a shadow. They came out near the infirmary.

Percy was woozy and he could see a lot of campers coming towards him, so he allowed himself to close his eyes and let the Apollo campers do their thing. When he woke up, his cuts were all bandaged and Blackjack was fine. Though he was resting.

Percy smiled at the fact he was alive and well and decided he was lucky enough . . . . . for a demigod.

I know I was really late with this chapter. The next chapter is the one ! saved for the last. Percy and Annabeth. So please read and review. Gimme 10 reviews and you'll get the last and final chapter. I swear.