All characters belong to Rick Riordan, blah blah blah. Wow. Eight chapters and I'm already tired of saying it.
Author's Note: Ok, I know I said I would add in the explanation for the Lotus Hotel aging thing in the last chapter, but I couldn't fit it in anywhere, so I will try to incorporate it somewhere in this chapter or the next. Also, in case you haven't noticed, the three dots signify a change in POV, but it stays in third person. Sorry about posting this chapter late, though. And one last thing: I changed the rating from K+ to T, because of, well, reasons you'll see. I'll stop talking now.
Chapter 8
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The heartbeat monitor registered a small beat in Annabeth's heart again, displaying zigzagging lines. She wasn't dead. Percy sighed with relief, looked at her one last time, and left the room.
He sat down on a chair across from her room in the row that lined the hospital walls. Nico patted his back and said, "See? If you'd sat here the whole time, you would've felt like you'd been here an eternity. You did something useful, even if it was dangerous."
But Percy was still shaken up. He'd unleashed his rage on Annabeth's dad, and as penance, Percy almost lost his Wise Girl.
It felt like she'd flatlined for so much longer then she did, and Percy was powerless to save her. But she pushed through and came back.
Percy had his Wise Girl back.
. . .
The pain was excruciating. Annabeth's body was numb with agony. She felt a wetness, and after struggling to open her eyes, she saw that she was soaked in blood. Some of the old wounds from past months opened up again, and Annabeth didn't know what had happened for them to bleed again. Some of the cuts were mostly healed before.
The next thing Annabeth noticed was the fact that she was in a hospital room. She recognized this one, actually, because this is where she was brought the other times. The sterilized smell was always a little different, and little fresher in this room, and Annabeth breathed deeply. The scent comforted her a little, because here, she was safe.
The last thing she remembered before passing out was Percy, and the way he looked. His hair had been messed up, his sea green eyes filled with worry and a bit of anger. He must have called 911.
Through the small window of the door, Annabeth could make out Percy's figure silhouetted against a window. There was a figure dressed in black next to him. Nico. Annabeth appreciates that he'd come, but all she could focus on was her Seaweed Brain, and the utter look of joy on his face when he saw her eyes open.
Annabeth's Seaweed Brain was here for her.
. . .
Nico had no clue whatsoever about how to console Percy.
He'd never actually gone through this, even though his entire family was dead. The pain of their deaths was horrible, but the only one he'd really felt was Bianca's. She was his sister, and the best one. Bianca had played Mythomagic with him, even though she didn't like it. She'd brought him food whenever their mom was out, and Bianca took care of Nico. She'd practically raised him herself. The thought of her gone was still painful, but she died for a cause she believed him. Nico never really knew his mom as much, but she hurt Bianca a lot, and his dad left before Nico was born.
Will was all Nico had left. Other than Percy and Annabeth, of course. But Will was there when Nico came out of the Lotus Hotel, and he'd taken him in. On Nico's 15th birthday, Will gave Nico two playing cards. Not two decks of cards, just two cards. When Nico unwrapped then, he noticed the Mythomagic logo immediately. Then he'd flipped the cards over and saw a picture of Bianca on one, the name The Huntress at the top, and the other had a picture of Nico. It was labeled The Ghost King. That's when Nico knew for sure Will Solace was always going to be there for him.
Now Percy needed someone to be there for him. Nico wanted to repay what Will did for him to someone else that needed it. He brought his phone out from his pocket and sent Will a quick message.
Hey Sunshine. Gonna take a little while at the hospital. Annabeth just woke up. Don't worry about me, I'll grab a bite to eat.
Will responded immediately.
Ok Neeks. But I will know if you don't eat, you hear me? I can confine you to your room again if I have to.
Anything but that! :(
Tell Annabeth to get better and get some rest! Also she should come to me if any of the cuts open up again or bother her :)
Ok see you soon!
Nico shut off his phone and waited for Percy to come back out of Annabeth's room.
. . .
"Wise Girl?" Percy burst into the room with a huge grin on his face.
She smiled weakly back at him. Annabeth tried to sit up but Percy ran over and gently pushed her back down. "You need to rest, Wise Girl. Don't worry about anything other than getting better." Percy looked happier then she'd ever seen him since his mom died. But beneath the glow in his eyes, Annabeth saw the anger, pain, and sadness hidden away. But her Seaweed Brain continued to plaster a smile on his face for her.
Annabeth's grin faded away, and Percy grew serious with a concerned expression. "Hey, Wise Girl, what's up?"
"What aren't you telling me?" Annabeth whispered.
He shook his head. "That's not for now. All you need to focus on is getting better. I'll take care of everything else." Percy put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, then turned to see Nico at the door, waiting for his permission to come in. Percy whispered to Annabeth, "I'll take care of everything for you. You're not gonna get hurt again." Then he nodded to Nico.
. . .
Nico stepped quietly into the room, as if he felt he were intruding. "Do you want Percy to stay? That's fine with me." Nico asked.
Percy looked at Annabeth, sharing a silent conversation with her, and it seemed like Percy was trying to stay in the room. In the end, Annabeth's glare was stronger and Percy left hesitantly.
Nico watched all this with growing awkwardness. The tension was released and Nico turned to Annabeth. "How are you holding up."
She smiled at him weakly. "I've been better. Thanks for coming. It means a lot."
Nico only nodded once in response. "Oh, Will also says," he paused to take his phone out and quote Will directly, "to 'get better and come to him if any of the cuts open up again or if they're bothering you'."
She laughed a little at that, telling him to thank Will for the thought.
Nico's smile faded away soon, though. "Is there anything Will and I can do to help?" He said quietly. Nico remembered watching his mom beat Bianca with her switch. He didn't want that to happen anymore to his friend.
"Um, yeah, actually you can." Annabeth responded. Nico nodded, gesturing for her to go on. "Can you find out what's going on with Percy? He's not telling me something." She seemed to note the way Nico squirmed a little at that request, but she didn't know it was because Nico already knew what was up. "Oh, and one more thing. Would you mind getting me some Dippin' Dots?"
Nico chuckled and told her to get some rest. He went to a vending machine that sold Dippin' Dots and bought blue raspberry ones for Annabeth and Percy, and a cookies and cream cup for himself. Nico walked back over and saw Percy about to go back inside the room.
"Hey, Percy, wait up!" Nico called from down the hall. Percy looked questioningly at the cups in his hand and he said, "For you and Annabeth. She wanted some, figured you would want one for yourself."
"Thanks, Nico." Percy replied. He turned to go inside the room. Nico stopped him again with a hand on his shoulder.
"Look, you need to tell Annabeth whatever you said or did to her dad. She knows something's up, and the longer you put it off, the worse her reaction will be. Trust me on that." Nico warned him. "She was asking me what was up with you, but it's not my place to tell. All I can do I warn you."
Percy looked worried. "Wait, she asked you?"
Nico nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, she asked me what's going on with you."
Percy shook his head, sighed, and entered her room with the Dippin' Dots cups in his hands.
. . .
Percy walked in with a smile. Annabeth saw immediately that he was trying hard to be happy for her. He held a Dippin' Dots cup out to her and Annabeth took it thankfully. "Nico?" She asked. Percy nodded confirmation. Annabeth gave Nico, who was standing outside with ice cream covering his face, a thumbs up. He grinned and gave her thumbs up too.
Then Annabeth grew serious and turned to Percy. "Ok, Seaweed Brain. Spill."
Percy was surprised for half a second, then tried to mask it with confusion. "Huh?" He said dumbly. It didn't work on Annabeth.
"You know what I'm talking about. There's something going on with you and you need to tell me." She poked him.
"Why would I need to tell you?" He asked sassily.
"Because I can guarantee it has to do with me." Annabeth shot back.
Percy ran a hand through his hair. He did that a lot, Annabeth noticed. "Are you going to tell me?" She demanded after a while.
"Look, Annabeth, I'm fine. You can worry about everything later, but right now we have to take care of you, ok?" Percy tried desperately to dodge her question.
Annabeth decided to let him go for now. "Fine," she sighed. "But I'm not letting this go. As soon as I start getting better you are going to tell me everything that's going on with you, down to the last detail, you hear me, Seaweed Brain?"
He nodded his head vigorously then Annabeth grabbed his shirt and pulled him down. She kissed him, his lips softer than she expected. They tasted salty, just like the sea. Annabeth pulled away and Percy's face was red but he was smiling. Then he pulled her in for another quick kiss.
Percy left, walking back to Nico's place, because he claimed he couldn't stand to be in the same house as the person who hurt Annabeth.
She knew otherwise. Annabeth was going to find out what had happened to Percy, no matter what.