Note, I'm skipping a lot of flavor text and background info, I figure if you're reading a fan fiction about a book, then chances are you've read the book and know, at least in part, that information.

I own none of the characters, not even the OC I made as she is part of the PJaO books and anyone is free to duplicate her for their own stories. Writing a story using characters from published books, I certainly can't complain if someone likes my idea enough to run it in a different direction, but please, no slash.

Rick Riordan and Patricia Briggs own all characters.

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The gun on the cover image is what I based Terry's on. It's a real weapon that fires real shells, shotgun in the case of the gun in the picture. Terry's has more decoration, including an engraving of the Drakkon she killed on the handle (made of Drakkon Ivory) and Greek lettering spelling out "End of Infinity" along the barrel. It's also a lot more powerful, but then, most of the weapons used by demi-gods are.

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I'm going to be updating and cleaning up the previous chapters over the next week or so while still working on the story. So if an update comes along and there isn't a new chapter, that's what happened. If I accidently delete the story, you'll also know what happened.

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Sorry for the chintzy chapters. For the most part they're just fillers to get the story from one place to the next, with a little extra added in case I wright additional stories for this line.

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I screwed up the age of Felix. 'The Kane Chronicles Survival Guide' places him as nine. For some reason I was thinking he was only five or six. Nine or ten work better for me, so I'll be changing the age in previous chapters eventually. Sorry people, my bad.

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Girl Talk

Mercy

Standing right in front of us is a werewolf, an unknown werewolf. "May we help you?" I ask, I notice his gaze is set nearly straight down, almost looking at his shoes. Either he's really angry and trying to get it under control, or he really doesn't want to challenge anyone. Since none of us are werewolves, that's very unusual.

"I'm looking for a place to be." He said, "Names Zack, I tried to call the local Alpha's house, but all I got was an answering service. When I called the second's house, I got the same thing and at the third's." He glances at Tony, and I can see him edit what he was going to say, "When I finally get a hold of someone, she tells me to head here. I'm low rank, bottom of the pack, and I don't cause no trouble. I just wanted to make myself known, and then be on my way."

"That's not going to happen." Adam says over the phone, "I'm about to pick someone up at the airport, than I'm on my way over. Wait there. Mercy, get some more information from Tony, I'll be there shortly."

I repeat what Adam said for Tony, everyone else could hear him fine. I turn to Zack, "You know anything about cars, even just enough to be a tool monkey?"

"Sorry ma'am, I barely understand how to drive the damn things. As for fixing them, they might a'swell be flying carpets for what I could do. I'm good at menial work, anything that's require some sort of schooling is beyond me."

Tad eye's him; "How are you at lifting things? If you're any good at that, we could use the help, Mercy's crane is acting fussy, and since it's looking like Mercy here is going to be gone for the day, as well as my father, than I'm going to be stuck working alone and could use the help. Doubly so if you can answer phone calls at…" he sees me shake my head, "never mind that, how about heavy lifting?"

"I can do lifting just fine, as well as basic assembly a'slong as you show me what goes where. But I don't need no charity, I prefer to make my own way. If's it right with you ma'am, I'd rather be on my way after the alpha arrives."

I raise my eyebrows at him, but it's Tony who answers, "To bad! Look, there's too much going on in town right now for anyone to be screwing up. Lots of rather trigger happy people at this moment. Since I've become aware of a wider community of supernatural critters than other cops are, I think I can safely say that that extends to those same supernatural critters. I cannot even begin to explain how desperately I want to avoid any paranormal fubar right now. I really need you to just accept the charity of the local werewolf pack, and lay the fuck low for a while."

I look at Tony and everyone else; "I'm taking a nap people, Tad, I'm transferring the phone to your cell so I can sleep in the backroom of the office. Wake me when Adam gets here. I assume you can handle it if a werewolf goes berserk?"

"Yes mother Mercy, between Dad and I, we can protect Tony and the rest of the city from Zack. Go sleep before you decide to kill someone just for spite."

As I head into the backroom, I can hear Tad explaining to Zack how stressful the proceeding day has been and why he really wants to be careful with Adam when he arrives. I get to the room where I keep my bed. It's not a normal bed, last Christmas, Jesse got me a joke gift that really is a lot more practical than I think she realized. I look at the doggy bed and transform. I wiggle out of my clothes and take a nap coyote style.

I wake up a couple of hours later with Adam laughing at me. He's sitting in my office chair and laughing. "I thought that Jesse's suggestion that you put that here was a joke. I should have known you'd actually do it." I sniff, Adam is the only one here right now, but Jesse was here only a couple of minutes ago. She probably came in here to wake me, and busted out with the giggles. Oh well, at least she knows I'm actually using her gift. I lay my head back down and cover my hears with my paws, letting Adam know I want to go back to sleep. "Come on Mercy, I've been here an hour already. Tony left shortly after you went to sleep, and Tad and Zee have been filling me in on what happened today. When I called Tony's phone, I told him we'd be at the police station they're keeping the, uh, the guests tonight after my interview. After that, Sam wants to talk to us, and I'm pretty sure I know about what. He also called you back a while ago, Zee talked to him, told him what Tony wanted, he said he'd make some calls. There are a couple of werewolf psychologists, but he's not sure if they're interested in moving here. Come on, Christy has been waiting oh so patiently," I can hear the lie in that; "and you can take a shower at home before dinner and going to stop the invasion of the living dead."

I get up, reluctantly, and start to walk out, pointing my nose at my clothes, and then at a handbag I keep with spare clothes, and head out to the car still in coyote form. I can hear Christy chatting with Zee, Tad and Zack, it's clear that they're being polite, but only Zack seams to really like her, and even that I'm not sure about. Adam heads out to the work area to collect Christy and Zack, Zee said he'd help Tad out the rest of the day, and then head to the police station around seven.

When I get outside, Jesse is sitting in the SUV, with the all the doors opened, so I nudge the front passenger door closed, and jump in the back and then crawl to the front, locking the door when I get settled. I see Jesse suppressing a giggle, and yes, I'm aware that courtesy should have the guest up front, but in coyote form, I'm even more aware of rank issues than in human form. I'm the alpha's mate, not Christy.

When they come out, I see Christy give a start of surprise when she sees me, Adam just grins. Zack climbs in the back as Adam 'helps' Christy into the seat next to Jesse. As we're driving home, Christy starts to talk about how considerate she was in waiting for me to wake up, with the implied insult that I wasn't considerate at all. If Jesse hadn't been in the car, I would have transformed and laid into her about all the crap she put Jesse and Adam through, and then rode the rest of the way home in the nude, just to annoy her. But she is in the car, so I don't. Instead, I stick my paw on that nice electric window opener and roll the window down so I can stick my head out.

After all these years, I finally get a decent chance to do this, and a wonderful excuse as well, I'm not going to pass it up. Jesse busts out in the giggles, again, Christy sputters, and Zack looks almost whimsical. Adam just laughs; "You're going to eat a bug if you keep that up." I look at him, wag my tail, and stick my head back out snapping my teeth occasionally like I'm trying to catch bugs. This really is fun, there's something in the hindbrain of canines that gets canines of all stripes going about this, I can see now why almost all dogs that get the chance do it.

When we get back to the house, there is a security check point set up at the driveway. Adam pulls up and checks with the guard. While they're talking, another guard walks up with a Doberman, the first guard is just starting to say that they don't need to check the boss's car for explosives when the dog jumps up to with his front paws on the side of my door so he can look down at me. Before the handler can finish yelling down, I snarl at him, putting a little of the authority of the alpha's mate behind it. The dog almost instantly drops down and rolls over, belly up. As the handler is staring at me, I sit back in an upright position, and ignore him. The other guard is laughing as Adam pulls away.

As we pull up to the house, I notice that the workers have left already. That confuses me for a bit until I remember that they were only checking the place out so they could give an estimate. As we get out, I can hear Percy arguing with someone, the replying voice sounds very young. What the hell?!

We walk in, Adam holding the door open for me, so I'm in the lead when I come nose to beak with a penguin. I stop dead in my tracks, what the fuck?! Everyone behind has stopped as well, Adam isn't even growling, he's too surprised.

Suddenly, Percy yells; "Get back out here, now!" And the penguin gives a squawk of fright, and goes running back to Percy. Fatigue forgotten, I head out to see what's going on. When I get outside, I can see a couple of new additions to our growing collection of oddballs. The first is a boy, probably preteen, wearing a Camp Half-Blood t-shirt. He's blonde, athletic, good looking for a boy. I get the impression that girls are one day going to be swooning over him, assuming they aren't already.

The other boy is about eight or nine years old. He's wearing a t-shirt that says 'Penguins are Cool' as well as several pieces of jewelry that look Egyptian in origin. He's arguing with Percy about keeping the penguins, he wants them, Percy's trying to tell him that it's not his choice and that the penguins would die here anyway.

I look around, in addition to the kids, there are the two child welfare ladies, Hestia, Julius, Auriele, Ben and Eric. My head snaps back to Ben and Eric, Eric is seated at the picnic table with Ben, standing up and leaning on the edge of the table behind him. Auriele is clearly at the edge of her patience, she's the mate of the pack second, she normally dominates any of the kids she teaches. In all her years of teaching, she's never had a kid that she couldn't control. Until today. I'm left with the impression that the only reason she wasn't being completely ignored was the habit of respect for adults the kids seemed to have, and the simple fact that they knew they were guests here.

Adam steps out; "ENOUGH! What is going on in my house? Why are there penguins here? Why are there yet more kids? And what happened that Ben has gained a position of dominance over Eric? Did I not say last night that I would allow no challenges until he was completely healed?"

Percy gives a sigh of relief, Ben, Eric and Auriele look startled, like whatever happened, they didn't think would upset Adam, I also notice Λύκος shift from Ben's wrist to Adam's, why did Ben have Λύκος? Several of the kids are looking at me, I'm pretty sure they recognize me, though only Rachel and Hestia don't seem surprised.

Before anyone can respond, Christy, who had been waiting in the living room for the penguins to be dealt with lets out a shriek; "What happened to my beautiful kitchen?! What happened?"

I turn around, Christy is standing in the ruins of MY kitchen, mouth hung open, in a state of shock. Adam sighs but remains silent. It's Hestia that responds to her; "YOUR kitchen? I was under the impression that this house, and by extension, its kitchen, belonged to Mr. and Mss. Hauptman. The man you betrayed and the woman you forfeited your place too. THEY, have decided to do some renovations."

Now it's our turn to stare in shock, all of us. Christy looks at the seemingly young girl and coldly; "Who are YOU?!"

A wave of power slaps against me, coming from Hestia. "I am the goddess of Hearth and Home, Protector of Families, Guardian of Children, and Enemy of all who Betray their Household! I am Hestia, firstborn of Kronos, eldest of the gods and Keeper of Flame. I predate all of your recorded history, so take care Ms. Christy, this household has taken in those I am fond of, so I have vowed to defend them. Even from threats they do not recognize."

Dead silence reigns, Terry, Rachel, Annabeth and the new blonde boy are down on one knee around her, while Julius, Percy and Nico have taken up positions behind and flanking her, clearly her guards. Penguin boy is just staring along with the rest of us.

It's Adam that breaks the silence; "Auriele, Jesse, please show Christy to her bedroom suite in the east wing, Mr. di Angelo, please show the two new boys to the suite they'll be sharing with you, Mercy, go take a shower while I try and figure out what happened. I need to have a talk with several people." Yeah, you do.

Rachel follows me up the stairs, and I can hear Christy suggesting that the upstairs bedrooms would be better for her. Auriele would clearly like to give in, but Adam gave her a direct order, and Jesse starts to explain that all the upstairs bedrooms are in use and that the suites have their own bathrooms.

Rachel follows me into the bedroom; "Mss. Hauptman, can we talk about something?" I'm still a coyote as I walk into the bathroom. She doesn't follow me in, but she does sit on the floor right outside, back against the door frame.

I shift forms; "You know, most people like to be alone when they shower or go to the bathroom." I say it a touch of irritation, but not much, I've grown used to the idea of pack members needing to talk at odd times.

"Really?! I've almost never been alone in the shower! Growing up at home, I always had servants or a nanny attending me, and when I started going to school, it was usually a boarding school with common multi person showers. At camp, my cave doesn't have a shower, so I either bathe in the bay, or use the showers at the work out area."

"Well, thanks for at least giving me some privacy."

"Not a problem that. It's actually one of the things that startled me about camp, the utter and complete lack of privacy. Everything is multi person, and nearly everything is coed, even the toilets, though they at least have barriers between them."

"The camp has coed showers? Sounds like you guys will have no problems adjusting to life with a werewolf pack. What exactly do you need?"

"Being attended by female servants when I shower or sharing with girls is one thing, taking a shower in an open area where everyone can see is, well it's an experiance. I'd like to talk to you about Annabeth and Terry, I think someone needs to talk to them about some things, and it's almost going to have to be you."

I groan; "Like what?"

"Well, Terry really needs to come to grips with her Indian side. When we were talking yesterday, I noticed you seemed accepting of her dislike of that part of her, like you understood it. Yet at the same time, you've gotten a hold of your dislike, and learned about it. Terry needs to do that, especially in this world, I saw that in a vision. You're the only one here who can help her with that."

"I'm not the only one, but I can understand you thinking so, there are a few other Indians who are werewolves."

"Ah, but did they go through the whole rejection thing you and your mother went through? Plus, they're werewolves, you're something native, that gives your words more clout in this. Though admittedly, that might actually hurt this, but I think it'd be better in the long run. If nothing else, you seem to have contacts with the native spirits slash gods, maybe you can run interference between her and them, preventing them from being too insulted until she can come to grips with it."

"Well, I need to talk to Coyote anyway, maybe he'll help, or Thunderbird, he'd be better. I'll ask around with a few Indian contacts, in general, I'm really not the one you want teaching someone about our culture. What's up with Annabeth?"

"Uh, that one is a little more, uh, personal in nature. No, I don't have a crush on her or anything like that. But she's been acting weird lately, trying to keep Percy, and I can SEE that in the long run, it's going to do just the opposite."

Great; "Um, this REALLY isn't my strong suit here, that seems like something you should do. She seems to listen to you." Please, not me.

"Can't, until a couple of months ago, I was competition for Percy myself, along with every single female at camp. However much she listens to me, however friendly we've become, there is a part of her that regards me as a rival. On this, she won't listen. She managed to win the heart of the most popular person in camp, but doesn't quite know how, and she's now in the process of ruining it."

"How about you explain that a bit better."

"Annabeth absolutely sucks with dealing with her emotions. In that, she very much takes after her mother. Wisdom my ass! She started to fall for Percy when she was eleven, back before Percy was popular, and he her. That would be great, except she just doesn't deal well with emotions, at all. Shortly before her thirteenth birthday, she actually considered joining the Hunters of Artemis, to forever remain a young girl, denied love and affection for eternity. Or until she can't help it anymore and Artemis turns her into a bear for the other girls to hunt down and skin, and she spends the rest of eternity as a blanket. That's how well Annabeth deals with emotion."

"So, anyway, before she actually commits to the hunters, she gets kidnapped by a monster who also kidnaps Artemis herself. Percy, defies several gods, fate, and prophecy, and goes on a quest without anyone's permission, to rescue Artemis and Annabeth. While doing so, he saves the life of a creature that should anyone kill, will give them the power to destroy society, rescues the two, gets in a fight with a Titan and manages to trounce him and returns the hero. About this time, Annabeth figures out that she's head over heels in love, and cannot deny it anymore. She manages to remain steady until after the Titan War is over."

"After the war though, she starts to have problems again. EVERYONE in camp is after Percy! At least once a week he has to fend off attempts by charm speakers like Drew who are trying to take him away. Even without that, all the girls are constantly trying to get him to talk to them. Well, not Clarisse, but she used to be his rival and her dad has tried to kill him several times, and even she would jump his bones given the chance. She'd feel guilty about betraying her friend Annabeth, but she'd still do it. Add in several gay guys throwing their advances into the mix and you've got a recipe for a relationship disaster."

I interrupt before she can go on; "When you said charm speakers were using their powers on Percy, is there any chance they were using it on her?"

"Probably, likely even. It'd explain the quickness of her coming to a breakdown, but not completely. She's recently started to do things to try and keep Percy, things that are often times completely at odds with what attracted him to her in the first place. I'm afraid she's either going to wake up one day and find Percy has falling out of love with her, or he'll grow so accustomed to what she's doing he'll start to take it for granted and she'll wake up and find she's wasted her life."

"Please talk to her, I care for both of them very much and don't want either of them hurt." With that, she gets up and leaves.

I finish my shower and sit down on my bed. I'm planning on getting dressed and going downstairs, but instead, I fall asleep. Maybe I'll actually get some rest now?