A/N: This is the end of Military Crisis. The last chapter. I hope you enjoy. I'm sorry it took so long to upload, but it was hard to figure out how to wrap it up correctly.

When the van pulled onto Annabeth's street, Annabeth fully registered where she was for the first time since she got off the phone with Reyna. It was strange. She could remember bits and pieces of what had happened, but it was like a dream. It didn't really register what was going on. It was like watching someone else impersonate her in a movie or something. It didn't feel like it was really her.

Annabeth got out of the van, turned to Jake and said, "Thanks."

Jake nodded. He looked a bit worried and got out of the van himself. "I'll stay with you until Percy gets back."

Annabeth just sighed and nodded wearily.

Annabeth stepped into her home and found it exactly the way she had left it when she had been kidnapped. Jake followed her in and shut the door behind him. Annabeth looked around and remembered that she had scheduled meeting up with friends. She turned around to speak to Jake, but he wasn't there.

"Jake?" Annabeth called out.

"Yeah?" He answered. He was sitting on the couch practically right in front of where Annabeth had been facing a few seconds ago.

Annabeth shook her head a bit and asked, "How many days has it been since I got back?"

Jake furrowed his eyebrows and said, "You just got back."

"No! I mean from Florida!"

Jake cocked his head to the side and thought about it briefly. Then he said, "I believe today, it's been four days."

Annabeth's eyes widened and she ran to the kitchen to grab the phone. Jake came running into the kitchen two seconds after Annabeth. Annabeth calmly looked up as he came in. She gave him a look that was like, what are you running for? Jake huffed and sat down on a stool that was near the counter Annabeth was leaning on while dialing someone on the phone.

"Hello?" Annabeth heard on the other end.

"Hi. Piper?"

"Yeah. Annabeth?"

"Yeah. Sorry. I've definitely got a story to tell."

"I figured as much. How about we just meet up now? I'll call everyone and you call your mother." Piper said taking charge.

Annabeth gave a little laugh and nodded even though she knew Piper couldn't see her. "I'll see all of you guys in a bit."

They hung up and Annabeth dialed the Empire State Building.

"Empire State Building, how may I help you?" Annabeth heard the familiar voice of the guy at the front desk.

"Yes. I would like to speak to Lady Athena."

"I'm sorry, ma'am. There's no Lady Athena that works in this building."

"You should be able to find her on the 600th floor."

"I'm sorry, but there is no such floor."

"Yes there is and you know there is."

The other end was silent. Then he said, "Alright. I'll transfer the call up."

"Thank you." Annabeth said sweetly.

"Annabeth?" A voice on the other end of the line asked.

"Yes. Is this Lady Athena?"

"It is."

"Hi. I'm sorry that I wasn't here two days ago. It's a long story. Can you just bring Leroy and Jr. right now?"

"Fine."

"Thank you, mother."

"You're welcome." The line went dead.

Annabeth took the phone away from her ear and glared at it. A knock came from the door and Jake started, but Annabeth waved him down. She crossed over to her door and opened it to find Piper, Calypso, Reyna and Hazel all looking apprehensively at the door.

"Hey guys."

They all smiled and said greetings. Annabeth stepped aside to let them come in. Piper was the first one to notice Jake, who had moved into the living room and sat down on the couch again.

"Hi Jake," Piper said.

Jake nodded to her and went back to reading a magazine he had picked off of Annabeth's coffee table. Just as the door was about to close, someone else knocked. Annabeth opened the door to find her mother holding her son with their puppy sitting at her feet.

"Leroy!" Annabeth exclaimed. She felt bad later that she hadn't acknowledged her son first, but he was asleep in her mother's arms. It wouldn't matter to him. Her puppy, however was probably aching for some real affection even if he never listened to her. Annabeth led Leroy inside, but Athena hovered in the doorway.

"You can come in, mother," Annabeth called.

Athena stiffly stepped past the door frame and let the door shut behind her. Piper gave a little squeal of delight, rushed up to Athena and took Jr. from her. Jr. was like his dad because when he was out, he was out. He didn't wake up with all the women crowding around and complaining about the long amount of time it had been since they had last seen him. Annabeth sat on the couch the entire time with Leroy panting and leaning on her legs. Jake had the magazine in front of his face, but Annabeth suspected he wasn't really reading it. She hadn't seen him turn a page the entire time he'd had it.

"Annabeth." Athena said. The other women went quiet and Jake finally lowered his magazine.

"Yes mother?" Annabeth answered.

"May I speak with you?" Athena may have said it like a question, but everyone in the room save Jr. and Leroy knew it was really a command.

"Of course, mother."

Athena waited as did Annabeth. "Alone?" Athena said forcefully.

Annabeth sighed and nodded wearily saying, "Let's go into the kitchen."

Athena held her head high as Annabeth stood and led the way with Athena on her tail. The others watched them, but made no movement to stop the interaction or accompany them. They valued their lives.

When Athena and Annabeth were both in the kitchen, Athena turned to Annabeth and her face softened. The fierce look in her eyes died out.

"What is it, mother?" Annabeth asked. It wasn't normal for Athena to look the way she did.

"I'm sorry." Athena gave Annabeth an envelope.

Annabeth looked at the envelope. It was deep blue and smelled like Percy so Annabeth knew it had to be from his father, Poseidon. On the front it had Annabeth's name, but that was all. No address or return address. It must have been personally given to Athena to deliver to her.

The look on Athena's face gave Annabeth a very ominous feeling. Annabeth slowly turned the envelope over and tore the seal. When the seal came off, it was like a warm, summer sea breeze just blew past. Annabeth took the letter out. It read,

Annabeth,

I'm sorry. My son has just been killed. The other A2 inner circle members are alerting their forces and will be arriving in New York in about an hour. They have a note from my son that they will give to you when they arrive. They all survived except for him. They will give you details when they arrive as well. Know this, that he saved them and died knowing he did some good in both the mortal and immortal world.

Annabeth looked up. She didn't cry, but she felt hollow. It couldn't be true! But Poseidon had never mentioned a name. Besides, it wasn't even signed Poseidon. It could be from a different person.

Athena said quietly, "Poseidon caught me just before I left to come to you and gave me the letter. He told me what has happened. I'm sorry, Annabeth."

Annabeth nodded numbly. She and Athena walked back into the living room. The people were talking quietly, but Jake had a finger to his ear and looked like he was listening very intently.

Annabeth sat down on the couch next to Hazel and tried to listen to what they were talking about, but it just didn't seem to register. Annabeth just couldn't comprehend what was going on around her.

Then it sunk it. Perseus Ray Jackson Sr. was dead. Annabeth's husband, best friend, hero of both worlds, was dead never to return home. Never to meet his son. Never to hold her in his arms again and comfort her when she wouldn't let anyone else in. Never going to be able to grow old alongside her. Annabeth let out a strangled cry. He was gone and he wasn't going to come back.

FIN.

A/N: I appreciate the concerns for my injuries. It was definitely a moral support.

This chapter was definitely difficult to formulate.

It's been a pleasure to write this and now finally, to finish it. I know it won't be the expected end, but it was the one that came out. It's the one that I see fit.

There will probably not be a sequel to this story, even though I was thinking of other continuations as I wrote this.

I hope you all enjoyed reading this and I'm always open to feedback. Thanks.