Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 21

"How can you live through that?" Annabeth asked Percy in a voice barely audible.

"I couldn't," Percy admitted after the story was over.

Silence washed over the group, and finally Nico stopped looking at his shoes that looked interesting. He waited one more minute before he spoke.

"Are we going to go or what?" Nico asked them all, startling them all out of their thoughts.

Suddenly Percy started grinning unexpectedly. "Let's go."

Annabeth helped Percy get on all the safety equipment, while the others passed and decided which equipment fitted and was the best. Apollo was the one who kept on looking out the window with worry. Occasionally he shook his head, and looked back at the person who was doing it.

"Are you done yet?" Nico asked in boredom and excitement.

"Not yet, just wait," Annabeth replied with a tinge of annoyance.

Nico put up his hands in surrender, while Annabeth glanced at him, shaking her head while smiling a bit.

Thalia knew that Percy should wear the dark blue equipment. She picked it up and examined it with interest. It was dark blue, and it looked light so that it wouldn't cause that much heaviness. It also had straps so you didn't have to put it on over someone's head. It was perfect. She grinned as she passed it on to Annabeth, who was currently working on the gloves.

Annabeth took it and placed it over Percy's head like a shirt. It didn't fit. She tried once more, thinking she did it the wrong way. And then she got frustrated and banged it on his head. Thalia was watching the scene with amusement in her eyes.

"It has straps," Thalia explained as she took over the job, trying hard not to laugh.

Annabeth watched as Thalia undid the straps and strapped it on Percy. Why didn't she see that instead of bonking it on his head? Stupid, stupid, stupid...

"There," Thalia said as she stepped back. "You're done."

Annabeth helped Percy get out of the hospital bed and get to the window. But once they got there, she held him back for a moment as if rethinking everything. More importantly, rethinking the plan. It was an insane plan that might result in severe injuries or complaining. But what she really didn't want was death.

"I'm going to be fine Annabeth," Percy reassured her with a confident grin on his scarred face.

"It's just that it seems really high up..." Annabeth trailed off.

Percy started laughing. "This? This is nothing compared to what I have to do every day Annabeth. I'll be fine."

With one last worried glance, Annabeth nodded, supported him until Percy was on the ledge, and let go of his shoulders. At first he was starting to fall, but her hands shot out and steadied him quickly. He shot her a grateful look, and she let go once again.

To say that everything was fine was a huge understatement. Percy looked around for any bricks that were sticking out more than others. No such luck. It was the same thing for any lead pipes or any pipes at all. For such a long time in the hospital, he wished he could get out. Now, looking down below at all the city life, he wasn't so sure that he wanted to go ahead with the plan. The car crash had really damaged him more then he thought.

Determination struck him once Percy saw Apollo look uncertain. It wasn't the confident grins Thalia and Nico sent his way. Or even when Annabeth smiled at him. It was when people doubted him. That was when he started to take notice. He spotted a banner right after that look of uncertainty he had caught.

Percy had a crazy idea once he saw the banner. But it definitely wasn't one of his craziest ones. He looked back to all his friends and grinned at them. Annabeth's smile faltered once she saw that grin that looked crazy. Was he going to commit suicide?

Annabeth ran much closer to the window then she should've, and she saw the whole scene with her own eyes. Percy jumped as best as he could with all those scars. She reached out, but afterwards, saw what he was trying to do. He reached for the banner and used it to get all the way down until it stopped just six meters below the ground.

What if Percy falls and breaks another ankle? Thoughts like that rang out clearly in Annabeth's mind, and she hurried down the stairs.

"One of you stay there," Annabeth commanded. "The rest, come with me."

"Annabeth goes commando," Thalia muttered. "Apollo, you stay here."

And before Apollo could protest, Thalia and Nico rushed out to reach Annabeth on time. He grumbled but did as told. He wondered why she was in such a rush. He looked down the window and figured out why. Percy could fall any second and go into the hospital again. He closed his eyes and hoped that his friend wouldn't die.

"Percy jump!" Annabeth demanded once she got down and reached him. "We'll catch you!"

"You know how many times I've heard that, and been misled?" Percy shouted back.

It was a miracle that nobody had discovered them yet.

"Just-" Annabeth began but got cut off.

Percy's hands were getting sweaty. And that was when it happened. He readjusted his hands but he did it too slow. And before he could get another grip on the banner, he fell.

"Catch him!" Thalia yelled.

Everyone was trying to do what Thalia said. But only one person managed to actually run around while someone landed.

Annabeth was standing in one place where she thought Percy would land. And she was right. But she wasn't ready for his weight to come in her arms.

The whole scene ended up with Annabeth and Percy in an awkward heap on the floor. Thalia was clapping sarcastically, while Nico was grinning.

"You two are sick minded," Annabeth spoke underneath Percy. "Can you get off me? You're kind of in my way of getting up, so if you could?"

"Sorry," Percy apologized as he got off Annabeth.

Annabeth stayed silent to close her eyes and relax.

"Thanks," Percy spoke again in gratitude. "I thought I was going to die."

"And I thought you were going to commit suicide," Annabeth finally replied.

Percy looked surprised that Annabeth would think that. And judging from the very long silence that happened after, it wasn't a joke. Do I really look that suicidal? He looked in a window that showed back your reflection. His face stared back at him. Haunted rings that were dark showed under his eyes. He remembered that his mother used to call it 'panda bear eyes,' because panda bears had those dark circles under their eyes as well. He closed his eyes as he remembered his mother. Rest in peace mom…

A/N: I need ideas and inspiration, so if any of you have any ideas, I'll be grateful. Sorry for the late update, and thanks for all the support!