A/N-Sorry for not updating yesterday. I didn't remember until 11-ish and I was at a hotel for a competition and we had to be asleep by 11:30 so I couldn't whip out my laptop and post. Enjoy!

3rd Person-

Percy gritted his teeth as yet another IM appeared in his cabin. He looked the floor, his eyes desperate. He was losing control of himself and fast.

When the image clarified, Percy huffed, still looking down. "Luke, I don't think that cure is working, I've been taking it in small dose-"

"Percy?" The caller interrupted, his one, brown eye, searching for him. "It is just me."

"Tyson," Percy's head snapped up, acknowledging his baby brother's presence. He sighed and muttered to himself, "Get a grip, Jackson."

"Are you okay?" The cyclops asked, concerned.

"I'm fine," Percy answered quickly then smiled. "How's my baby bro holding up in those undersea forges?"

"Great!" Tyson smiled a barely toothed grin. "I make big sticks and eat peanut butter!"

"That's great, kid. I know you were looking forward to going."

"I wish you were here, Percy." Tyson's face fell. "I could show you my sticks."

"Me too, kid." Percy smiled lopsidedly. "Hey, maybe I can get Rainbow to take me there."

The cyclops beamed at the mention of his favorite hippocami. "Yay, Percy and Rainbow would make me happy."

Before the demigod could reply, a bell rang.

"Break is over." Tyson explained. "Call me soon?"

"Sure thing, kid." Percy swiped his hand over the IM, ending the connection.

1st POV/Thalia-

Ten seconds passed between when Percy Jackson took his seat and when he pocked me under my shoulder blade with his trusty pen. Ten whole seconds of peace. Twisting around in my seat, I plastered a dazzling smile on my face.

Percy pulled his hand back and tapped the blue cap of his pen on the corner of his lips. "Good morning, Sweetheart."

I forced my gaze to his eyes. Bright gold, as usual. "Good morning, Percy."

"Don't forget we have plans this evening."

"Yeah, I know. Looking forward to it," I said dryly.

"Want to know what I've noticed?" Percy leaned forward, tipping his desk down. One corner of his lips curved higher, as if he were secretly laughing.

"What?"

"Your powers always seem to work best when I'm around. You shocked me at the lake-thanks for that, by the way. Water and electricity mix very well together."

"I'm available anytime."

"Anyway, since we're practicing on your powers this afternoon-I have this really fun idea of how we can do it." Percy wiggled his eyebrows. "Your powers seem to work...better when you're within arms reach if you know what I mean."

He wasn't wrong. I was always in his arms when my powers worked best and I hated that. I knew what his "fun idea" entailed. Me. Him. Making out. I smiled, and the amber in his eyes smoldered.

"Liking the idea?" he murmured as his gaze dropped to my lips.

An unhealthy amount of excitement had my entire body humming, and I reminded myself that I hated his watery guts.

"Not in this lifetime, buddy." I replied.

"Resistance is futile, Sweetheart."

"So is your charm."

"We'll see."

Rolling my eyes, I faced the front of the classroom. A few minutes later, Percy poked me with his pen. Again.

Squeezing my hands into fists, I debated ignoring him. I knew better-he'd just keep poking me.

Turning around, I glared at him. "What, Percy?"

With a grin that did funny things to my stomach, he glided his fingers along my cheek, plucking a tiny bit of lint out of my hair.

I stared at him.

"Don't forget this afternoon..."

I started to get all kinds of crazy ideas as his grin turned wicked, but I wasn't playing his game anymore. I rolled my eyes and whipped back around, I would resist the way he got to me like no one else.

A slight tic of pain throbbed behind my left eye the rest of the morning, which I totally blamed on Percy.

By lunch, I felt like someone had sucker punched me in the head. The steady noise of the mess hall and the smell of burned food made me more queasy.

"Hey do you want go sit outside?" Lee Fletcher suggested. "You don't look so good."

I nodded and he and Annabeth helped me out, bringing our lunches along. We picked a picnic table near the mess hall and began to fell slightly better.

"Thanks guys," I started to smile, but a warm tingle skated across the nape of my neck. A few seconds later, Percy dropped into the seat to my left. A strawberry smoothie-my favorite-was set in front of me. I was more than a little shocked to receive any present from Percy, much less one of my favorite treats. My fingers brushed his as I took the drink, and a jolt of electricity danced along my skin.

I yanked my hand back and took a small sip. Delish. "Thank you."

He smiled in response.

"Where's ours?" Lee quipped and Annabeth nodded in agreement.

Percy laughed. "Sorry guys-she looked a little green."

"Is it that noticeable?" I asked, wiping a hand over my damp, clammy forehead.

"A little." Annabeth said apologetically.

"Cookie?" The son of Poseidon and Kronos offered, holding a cookie full of chocolate chips.

Upset tummy or not, there was no way I could pass that up. "Sure."

His lips tipped up one side and he leaned toward me, his mouth inches from mine. "Come and get it."

Come and get...? Percy placed half the cookie between those full, totally kissable lips.

Oh, sweet baby Zeus.

My mouth dropped open. Annabeth and Lee grimaced, awaiting my move.

That cookie-those lips-were right there.

Heat swept over my cheeks and Percy arched his brows, daring me.

Annabeth gagged. "I'm think I'm going to puke."

Mortified, I looked for the nearest hole to crawl in and die. What did he think I was going to do? Take the cookie from his mouth like something straight out of an R-rated version of Lady and the Tramp? Hell, I kind of wanted to, and I wasn't sure what that said about me.

Percy reached up and took the cookie. There was a gleam to his eyes, as if he'd just won a battle. "Time's up, Sweetheart."

I stared at him.

Breaking the cookie in two, he handed me the larger piece. I snatched it away, half tempted to throw it back in his face but it was...it was a cookie. So I ate it.

Taking another sip of my smoothie, I felt unease skitter along my spine like someone was watching me. I looked around-there were campers coming to lunch and nothing looked abnormal. I shook my head, feeling foolish for being weirded out over nothing. Monsters couldn't get inside the camp. Maybe I was coming down with something. I needed to stop freaking out. Maybe that's why I was lightheaded and dizzy. It surely had nothing to do with the boy sitting beside me.

After I finished all my classes, I headed back to my cabin, skipping dinner. My hands felt weak. My thoughts were scattered. Going up the steps to my cabin door, I ignored the way the skin on the back of my neck tingled. I also ignored six feet and then some of boy leaning against the doorframe.

"I didn't see you at dinner today." Annoyance colored his tone. "I was waiting for you after so we could work on your powers."

"I didn't see you at breakfast today." I shot back, more annoyed. I pushed open the door and walked in. Of course, Percy was right behind me, not waiting for an invite. "I don't want practice today, Percy. I'm tired."

Percy was silent as he realized I was serious. I plopped down on my bed, fiddling with the sheets. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot." He replied smoothly.

"Do you...feeling anything around me?"

"Other than what I felt this morning when I saw how good you looked in those jeans?"

"Percy." I sighed, trying to disregard the girl in me that screamed, HE NOTICED ME! "I'm being serious."

His long fingers idly traced circles onto my desk. "The back of my neck gets all warm and tingly. Is that what you're talking about?"

I peeked up. "Yeah, you feel it, too?"

"Whenever we're near each other." He confirmed.

"It doesn't bother you?" I asked.

"Does it bother you?"

"I-I don't know." I realized. "Is it an empathy link?"

"No, those can only be created by satyrs," Percy explained. "Grover and I used to have one."

Suddenly, Percy frowned. "Are you feeling well?" He asked.

Not really. "Why?"

"You look like crap."

Any other time his comment would've started a war, but I just sighed. "I think I'm coming down with something."

"Well then don't." Percy said. "I can't afford for you to be sick. We need to get you outside and work on your powers. What if there's a quest then you're a-"

"If you dare say I'm a weakness, I will hurt you."

He sat back on top of the desk, brows inching up his forehead. "I was going to say that you're at risk."

"Oh." My cheeks flushed. Whoops. "Well, then, I'm still not weak."

One second Percy was sitting at the table and the next he was beside me, kneeling down. He had to look up slightly to see my face.

"I know you're not weak. I've seen you conjure up storms out of thin air. I've felt the power of your dad's most prized master bolt and I can honestly say, I believe there's twice as much power in you."

Whoa. It was getting hard to hate Percy when he was actually being...nice. He stared at me like I was the last piece of chocolate in the whole world.

Which made me think of that damn chocolate chip cookie in his mouth.

The side of his lips twitched as if he knew what I was thinking and was fighting a smile. Not that little smirk of his, but a real smile. Then suddenly, he was leaning over me. "Now I need you to prove you're not weak. Let's get to work."

I groaned. "Percy, I'm really not feeling well."

"Thalia..."

"I'm not saying that to be difficult. I feel like puking."

"You want a repeat of those last moments of your life from six years ago? Defenseless and outnumbered against a horde of monsters?"

Good point. I winced at the memory, pushing up from the bed. "I'll get changed."

Surprise widened his eyes as he stepped back. "Caving in so easily?"

"Caving in?" I laughed. "Dude, I just want you out of my face."

Percy chuckled deeply. "Keep telling yourself that, Sweetheart."

"Keep taking your ego steroids."

In a blink of an eye, he was in front of me, blocking my way. Then he prowled forward, head lowered and eyes full of intent. I backed up until my back was against a wall.

"What?" I demanded.

Placing his hands on either side of my hips, he bent forward. His breath was warm against against my cheek and our eyes locked. He moved a fraction of inch closer, his lips brushed my chin. A strangled gasp escaped the back of my throat, and I swayed toward him.

A heartbeat later, Percy pulled back, chuckling smugly. "Yeah...not my ego, Sweetheart. Go get ready."

Dammit!

Giving him my number one finger, I went into the bathroom. My skin still felt clammy and gross as I changed into a pair of sweats and a thermal. I splashed water on my face and as the liquid ran down my face, I felt slightly better. Despite that, some sixth sense knew this power training sesh wasn't going to end well.

Percy started us off with a jog. I lasted twenty minutes.

With the uneven terrain of the woods, the brisk August wind-New York was particularly chilly this week-and the boy next to me, I couldn't do it. Leaving him halfway to the lake, I speed walked all the way back to my cabin. Percy called out to me a couple of times, but I ignored him. Within a minute of reaching my bathroom, I threw up-the clutching-the-toilet, on-my-knees, tears-streaming-down-my-face kind of hurling. It was so bad that Annabeth and Lee, who were taking a walk, heard it.

They hurried into the bathroom, and Annabeth pulled my hair back. "Oh Thalia, I didn't know you were feeling this bad."

"Me either." I moaned, resting my head against the tub.

Tsk-ing under his breath, Lee placed his hand against my forehead. "You're burning up." He grabbed a towel and ran it under the tap. "We should get you to the infirmary-"

"No, I'll be fine." I took the towel gratefully, pressing it against my forehead. The coolness was wonderful.

"Wait outside for me, okay?" Annabeth asked him. "I'll be right out."

Lee nodded, leaving. The daughter of Athena then proceeded to cluck over me until I got up and took a shower. Changing into a long sleep shirt took an absurd amount of time. The room did a Tilt-a-Whirl on me as I climbed under the covers, shivering.

Annabeth had brought Lee back in, who brought in a bottle of water and some nectar.

The son of Apollo snapped his fingers, and a thermometer appeared in his hand. "Open up."

I obediently opened my mouth. After a moment, the device beeped.

"One hundred and one. You're going to need a small dose of nectar." Pausing, he handed me a small vial of the amber liquid. I downed it, no questions asked. "Your temp isn't that bad, but I want you to stay in bed and rest. We'll check up on you before curfew, okay?"

I nodded and then snuggled down. Sleep was all I needed. Annabeth folded another damp cloth and placed it over my forehead. I closed my eyes, almost certain I was approaching stage one of a zombie infection.

A weird fog entered my mind. I began to see images of three old ladies knitting but my dream was cut short as Annabeth and Lee checked in on me around ten. They made sure I was hydrated and had enough damp towels for the night. As soon as they left, I closed my eyes and the dream resumed. The three old ladies were back, sitting in rocking chairs. Their silver hair was tied back into a bandanna which was pretty badass for some old grannies. They all wore white cotton dresses and their bony arms constantly knitted. The middle one's head snapped up and I felt her eyes pierce my soul.

"Τα παιδιά των τριών μεγάλων , θα σου δεσμεύσει έως ότου ο πρεσβύτερος φτάσει δεκαέξι" (A/N-This is a rough translation. Don't bother looking it up because it won't make sense.) She said, a green fog surrounding her. The two other grannies joined in and before I could decipher the line, I woke up.

My night shirt was damp, clinging to my feverish skin. I went to push the blankets off and noticed they were across the room, covering my desk. I must've accidentally summoned the wind to blow them away.

Cold sweat dotted my forehead as I sat up. My thumping heart echoed in my head, heavy and erratic. Two beats at once, it seemed. My skin felt stretched tight over my muscles-hot and prickly. I stood, and the room spun.

I was so hot, burning up from the inside. My insides felt as if they'd melted into goo. My thoughts ran into one another, a never-ending train of nonsense. All I knew was that I needed to cool down. I waved my left hand and the door flew open, beckoning me. I frowned, I knew my powers were coming back but it usually required more effort. Nevertheless, I walked outside. It wasn't cold enough.

Stars lined the night sky, intensely bright. I lowered my gaze and the trees seemed to shift colors. Yellow. Gold. Red. Then they turned a muted shade of brown.

I was dreaming, I realized.

In a daze, I ventured away from my cabin, barefoot. Pieces of gravel poked at my feet, but I kept walking, the moonlight leading the way. It didn't take me long to reach the lake. Under the pale light, the onyx-colored water rippled. I moved forward, stopping when my toes sunk through loose dirt. Prickling heat scorched my skin as I stood there. Burning, Sweltering.

"Thalia?"

Slowly, I turned around. Wind whipped around me as I stared at the apparition. Moonlight slicked his face in shadows, reflecting in his wide, bright eyes. He seemed to fade in out a bit, indicating that he wasn't real.

"What are you doing, Sweetheart?" Percy asked.

He seemed fuzzy. Percy was never fuzzy. "I...I need to cool down."

Understanding shot across his face. "Don't you dare go into that lake."

I moved backward. Icy water lapped at my ankles and then my knees. "Why?"

"Why?" He took a step forward. "It's too cold. Sweetheart, don't make me come in there and get you."

My head throbbed. "Why are you here anyway? It's past midnight."

"I don't want to go sleep."

"What are you-a little kid? Scared of the dark and going to sleep?"

His lips twitched, "Yes." He admitted softly.

I frowned, this was definitely a dream-Percy wasn't one to admit fear. My brain cells were definitely melting. I sunk farther down. Cold water soothed the burning in my skin. It washed over my head, stealing my breath and the fire. The burn eased, nearly fading. I could stay under forever. Maybe I would.

Strong, solid arms surrounded me, pulling me back to the surface. Frigid air rushed me, but my lungs were seared. I dragged in deep gulps, hoping to extinguish the flames. Percy was pulling me out of the holy water, moving so fast I was in the water one second and standing on shore the next.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded, grasping my shoulders and giving me a light shake. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Don't." I pushed at him weakly. "I'm so hot."

"Yeah, you're hot, alright. The whole wet white shirt...it's working, Sweetheart, but a midnight swim in a negative degree lake? That's a little a daring and that's coming from a son of Poseidon."

He wasn't making any sense. The reprieve was over, and my skin was burning again. I stumbled from his grasp, back toward the cool lake.

His arms were around me before I even took two steps, turning me around. "Thalia, you can't get in the lake. It's too cold. You're going to get sick." He brushed back the hair from my cheeks. "Hell-sicker than you already are. You're burning up."

Something in what he said cleared a bit of haze. I leaned into him, pressing my cheek into his chest. He smelled wonderful. Like spearmint and a cool ocean breeze. "I don't want you."

"Uh, now is not the time to get into that conversation."

This was just a dream so I sighed, wrapping my arms around his waist. "But I do want you."

Percy's arms tightened around me. "I know, Sweetheart. I know. You're not fooling anyone. Come on."

Letting go, my arms hung limply at my sides. "I...I don't feel too good."

"Thalia." He pulled back. Both hands were on my face, holding my head up. "Thalia, look at me."

I wasn't looking at him? My legs gave out. And then there was nothing. No Percy. No thoughts. No fire. No Thalia.

Things were hazy, disjointed. Warm hands kept the hair back from my face. Fingers smoothed over my cheek. A deep voice spoke to me, somewhat musical and soft. A song that was beautiful and comforting.

I heard voices.

Once, I thought I heard Annabeth.

"You've been here all day, Seaweed Brain-go get some rest. I've got her."

I was moved around. Wet clothing instantly dried. Something warm and soft slid over my skin. I tried talking to the voices around me, and maybe I did. I wasn't sure.

At some point, I was wrapped in a cloud and carried somewhere. A steady heart beat under my cheek, holding me until the voices faded and cool hands were replaced with warm ones. Bright lights intruded. I heard more voices. Chiron? Chiron sounded worried. He was talking to...someone. I recognized the voice as Michael Yew, a son of Apollo and medic for the infirmary. He had the cool hands.

There was a prick in my arm, a dull pain that radiated to my fingers. More hushed voices, and then I heard nothing.

There was no day or night, but this weird in-between where a fire raged in my body. Heat swept inside me, rushing through my veins. Gasping, I arched my back off the bed, and strangled scream escaped the back of my throat. Everything burned. A fire raged inside of me ten times worse than before, and I knew I was dying. I had to be...

And then there was a coolness in my over skin, like someone was barely hovering a small amount of water over me. It moved quickly, dousing the flames and leaving a trail of ice in its wake. Then I slept. I slept for what felt like an eternity, not certain I was ever going to wake up.

Four days of being in the hospital, and I had next to no recollection of any of it. Only that I woke up Thursday in an uncomfortable bed, staring at a white ceiling and feeling fine. Great, even. I'd obviously had a bad case of the flu or something, not something serious.

Now Chiron watched me with shadowed eyes as I downed a glass of water. Convinced that I was feeling much better, he discharged me from the infirmary.

"Michael and Lee cleared you-you're free to resume classes and return your cabin."

"Thanks, Chiron." I swung my legs, getting up to stretch. "Did I have the flu or something?"

"Perhaps. Annabeth said she'd look into it; she may have an answer by now. I wouldn't worry much-last month, many campers were stricken with the flu."

I nodded, craning my neck. After a paused, I frowned. "How did I get to the infirmary?"

"Percy brought you in. Although, I'm curious as to how he knew where you were at three in the morning and what he was doing up at such an ungodly hour." The centaur's eyes narrowed, "Actually, I'm very curious."

Oh, shit. "So am I."

As I began to walk away, Chiron placed a hand on my shoulder. "Before I forget, Grover has requested your assistance to recruit the two demigods at Westover Hall. He's declared an emergency-he believes they are very powerful."

"Two demigods?" I questioned-that was rare, especially considering the fact they are powerful.

"A boy and girl-siblings." My mentor confirmed. "You, Percy, Annabeth, and Lee will be departing shortly."

Outwardly, I smiled and walked out of the infirmary, towards my class. Inwardly, I groaned. As if I needed to spend more time with the stabworthy son of Kronos and Poseidon.

A/N-So about updating next week, I have a decent chunk of chapter five done but it also takes place over a spam of three months (Don't ask-you'll see why) so those take longer. So far I've started on month one but that's kind of introducing the Di Angelos and a Perlia scene so that shouldn't take long. Like I mentioned in the above A/N I had a competition and I missed two days of school so I have a few tests to make up and homework. So I can't say 100% that I can post on tuesday. After this goes up, I think I'll do most of my homework and studying so I have monday to write out the chapter. As always, thanks for reading and I'll see you guys next chapter.