The sun was rising as they pulled into the dusty parking space at the havasupai trailhead.

Annabeth yawned and stretched. "You made good time Piper."

She grinned. "I only got pulled over twice."

Annabeth turned to look at Shana and Percy in the back. Shana had just woken up.

"We're here?"

"Yeah! You want to hop out and stretch?"

She nodded happily and opened the car door. Piper followed her.

Percy was deeply asleep; his body draped over two of the back seats. His head was lulled to one side and it looked uncomfortable.

"Hey, seaweed brain!"

He didn't respond.

She reached back and shook his knee. He didn't move.

Annabeth's heart began to pound in her chest. "Percy!"

No response.

She fumbled to open the door and nearly fell over herself getting out. She opened the back door and squeezed as close as possible to Percy's motionless body.

She held his head, streaking his hair. "Hey, wake up."

When he didn't answer she put her finger to his neck. She felt his heartbeat against her fingers tips but his breathing was shallow.

"Percy," she said, panic creeping into her throat. "Please wake up!"

He grumbled something unintelligible. Annabeth lifted his shirt, remembering his painfully bruised ribs from the night before.

"Oh my gods," her voice cracked. His skin was mottled shades of black and blue across his chest and left side. He looked like he'd been hit by a truck.

Her mind raced and she took deep breaths.

He's going to be okay, she told herself.

Piper must have heard the panic in Annabeth's voice because she poked her head inside the car.

"Holy Zeus!"

"He's got broken ribs," Annabeth muttered. "Probably pneumothorax. His breath is shallow. He… he needs nectar. And we have to get him in the water."

Piper turned back and told Shana to stay a few feet away.

"Keep her away, she shouldn't see this," Annabeth mumbled.

Piper put her hand on Percy's shoulder. "Wake up Percy!"

Her charmspeak was so powerful Annabeth felt like she's down 7cups of coffee.

Percy's eyes opened. "Hey wise girl."

Annabeth kissed him fiercely then pulled away quickly, remembering his shallow breathing.

"The river," she said. "I have to get him there."

"Annabeth, it's a 10 mile hike. Maybe more. And he can't walk," Piper said. "And it's the middle of summer, do you know how hot—"

"I don't care," Annabeth interrupted. "I'll carry him."

Percy pulled himself up to a sitting position, his face contorted with pain. "Didn't… you get… my… fish tank?"

He struggled to get each word out.

Annabeth laughed through a sob. She brushed her hands against his cheeks.

"Hey," he whispered, lifting one hand to touch her own face. "It's… okay. I'll be… okay. We've… been … through worse … than a… a few… broken ribs."

Piper unzipped a bag and handed Annabeth a bottle of nectar.

"Drink this," she urged Percy, uncapping it and putting it to his lips.

He drank most of the bottle.

"Piper," Annabeth said. "Take Shana. Go to a hotel or… or campground or something. I'm taking him down to the water."

"Annabeth…" Piper sounded like she wanted to protest. Then she stopped herself. "Okay. Okay. It's going to be fine. You're going to get him there. And… Percy. You are not allowed to die."

Again, Annabeth felt the magic in her words.

"Yes… ma'am," he said. He did sound a bit stronger.

"Okay," Annabeth struggled out of the car. She added water bottles and snacks from the road trip and the first aid kit to a large camping backpack, stuffing it so full she could barely zip it back up.

Shana had quietly slipped back into the car and hugged Percy.

"Please don't die," she said.

He smiled at her, keeping his tone light and happy. "Oh, don't… don't worry. I'll be… okay! I'll… see you… really soon, okay?"

"Promise?" She put up her little finger and Percy curled his around it.

"Yeah, I … promise."

Piper and Annabeth helped him he out of the car.

Percy leaned against the car. "Can I get the water?"

Piper handed him a bottle and he drank most of it. Then she guided Shana away from the vehicle to take a look around. The little girl didn't need to see her hero in any more pain.

Annabeth sifted through the pile of clothing she had dumped out so unceremoniously. She pulled out a pair of shorts and a tank top. Without skipping a beat she changed her pants for the shorts and took off the long sleeve shirt she wore, exchanging it for the tank top.

Percy grinned at her. "That… was… hot."

She chose to ignore the comment. She added a light cotton long sleeve shirt on top which would, hopefully, protect her from sunburn, and it would be easy to remove if she got too hot.

Annabeth observed him. He wore a T-shirt and long jeans.

"Percy, did you bring any shorts?"

"Yeah… in my bag."

She rummaged around the car and found his bag, hastily stuffed with his clothing. She found a pair of cargo shorts and his hat and returned to him.

"It's gonna get really hot today," she spoke quickly as she reached for his belt and pant fastenings. "So you should—"

"Woah!" He grabbed at the pants, which were already halfway undone. "I can… do that… myself."

Annabeth gave him a look that said I highly doubt it.

He kicked off his shoes and gave her a look as he hooked his thumbs under the waistband.

Annabeth realized he wanted her to look away. She sniffed. "Quite the double standard huh?"

"Hey," he dropped his pants anyway, his initial shock of embarrassment overcome. "You're… beautiful… I'm… ugly… that's not… double…"

He fell backward into the open car. She rushed to check on him.

"…double… standard…"

"Shh, stop talking, you're wasting your breath."

She took over, helping him change then putting his shoes back in his feet.

Annabeth rubbed goopy sunscreen on both of them and added the bottle into her bag.

"Okay," she shouldered her backpack with the camping gear, buckling the front piece on her chest, and put on her hat. "Let's go."

She pulled him up and put his arm around her shoulder.

They started their walk. The ground was rocky and dusty. The trail wasn't easy and Annabeth had to keep both of them from slipping.

The unforgiving sun climbed higher in the sky and Annabeth's stomach began to grumble.

Her foot slid on the rocky ground and she gripped Percy's shirt and braced them both against a fall.

"Annabeth," Percy said.

"Shh!"

"Water."

"I know," she snapped. "We're going as fast- oh to drink?"

"Yes."

She stopped walking and steadied him before pulling a bottle out of the bag.

He drank freely and she realized just how thirsty she was as well. She pulled out her own bottle and took small sips. She wasn't sure they had enough.

She pulled out the snacks. They had to keep up their strength too. "Here."

She handed Percy some jerky and nuts which he accepted and chewed on quietly.i

She ate some herself then packed away the rations. She took off the cotton shirt which was damp with sweat. The faintest breeze kissed her neck and shoulders and it gave her extra energy and strength.

"Okay," she wrapped her arm around Percy again and pulled him to stand. "Ready?"

"Yes ma'am."

They continued their walk down through the canyon. The sun climbed higher and sweat poured down her back and face. She didn't even know it could get that hot.

Her skin burned. Her eyes stung from the harsh light. Her lips felt cracked and dry.

She tried breathing through her nose and the heat scorched her nasal passages and throat.

"Percy," she said. "Are you doing ok?"

He grunted and kept moving with her.

At high noon Percy rested his head against her shoulder. "Wait… just… minute."

She stopped moving forward. "Break?"

"Yeah."

She guided him to a patch of shade and he rested against the wall of the canyon.

She pulled out the water and helped him drink then allowed herself a few sips.

She pulled out the snacks again and gave some to Percy. He shook his head.

"You should eat, you need the strength."

He took the food without further argument.

Annabeth took a moment to look around. As hot and dry as it was, and despite the rocky terrain, the view really was spectacular. Her shoulders were beginning to turn pink and she put the white cotton shirt back on, then reapplied sunscreen to her exposed skin. She moved to stand in front of Percy and rubbed the cream on his face and neck.

"Someone… is coming… to help," Percy muttered.

"What?"

"She'll be… soon…" He leaned his head against the wall.

Minutes later Annabeth heard a clopping sound, like hooves.

A mule trotted into view and she could have cried with relief.

For some reason, she was already saddled.

The beautiful brown creature flicked its ears and nodded its head braying a greeting.

The mule walked up to Percy and nuzzled him. Without saying anything he patted her neck.

She flicked her ears and gave Annabeth side eye before braying again and nodding.

Annabeth moved to Percy's side. She helped him up onto the mules back.

Percy held out his hand gesturing for her to join him. "Come on… she said…she can.. take you. And… I need… to stay up."

Annabeth climbed on behind Percy and wrapped her hands around his waist.

With a shake of her head and a bray the strong mule began to move.

Even with the help of the mule, it took the whole day to get down to the bottom. Annabeth held Percy's body slumped against hers. A few people gave strange as they passed but quickly turned away when she scowled at them.

As the sun began to dip lower in the sky the mule stopped and pawed the ground. They had reached a clearing where people rested.

Percy pulled himself up. Annabeth slid off the saddle and helped Percy down. He leaned his head against the mules neck, silently communicating with the animal.

The creature must have said something funny because Percy laughed weakly.

The mule shook her head again and trotted off.

They continued to move forward, Annabeth supporting Percy. It was a hard hike and downward climb through steep rock walls. Finally they reached the back of a line of people.

Annabeth cursed under her breath. Why was there a line? She leaned Percy against the wall of the Canyon and peeked ahead.

Two things struck her. The first: they were woefully underprepared. Each person had their own large backpack with a bedroll. Annabeth had hastily grabbed one bag. They would need to share the tent and sleeping bag. The bigger issue? She knew there wasn't nearly enough food or water for the two of them to get back out of the canyon.

The second thing she noticed: the line was backed up as people descended a set of steep ladders. Annabeth looked at Percy, he didn't seem to be in any shape to climb the ladders.

She pulled out the first aid kit and took out the remaining ambrosia. She handed him a square and he ate it without comment.

"There's a set of ladders we have to climb down," she said quietly. "I'll go first so if you slip, I'll catch you."

"Okay," he said. "Then we… can… fall together."

She frowned, he had a point. "Just try not to fall."

Percy coughed into his hand.

"You know, you should use your elbow instead. Because germs…" she trailed off. He was looking at his hand and his face said, shit.

"Hey," she asked. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head, sticking his hand in his pocket. "Nothing… scrape."

"You suck at lying," she said and stuck her hand out. Give it to me. "Show me your hand."

Percy furrowed his brow but lifted his hand to show her. His hands were dry but there was no cut or scrape. She narrowed her eyes. Dirt had collected on his palm and stuck there. A thought tickled the back of her mind but she pushed it away. She brushed off the dirt.

"Scrape?"

He shrugged. "Bruise?"

"Stop lying."

The line had been moving and now there was only one small group ahead of them.

"Hey," Percy whispered. "I just… want… to say… I… I love… I love you."

"No, no, no," she shook her head. "That sounds like last words talk. Don't you dare give me last words. You're not dying."

"Okay," he covered a cough again. "But… I still… love you."

Annabeth took his hand before he could hide it away in his pocket.

Tiny specks of blood dotted his palm. Lots of tiny specks.

Annabeth gritted her teeth. "We're almost there. You're gonna make it. We're gonna start a family, remember? Our kids are gonna need you."

Percy took a halting breath, filling his lungs to capacity, which wasn't much. He pushed himself away from the way he had been leaning on. "Yes, ma'am."

They descended the ladders, carefully stepping down. At the bottom, Percy collapsed.

"Hey!" Annabeth pulled him up to a sitting position.

"I'm… okay…" he leaned his head against her shoulder and took shallow breaths. "Just… a second."

A woman approached them, backtracking her steps. She crouched down and looked at the two of them.

"He looks in bad shape," the woman had an accent but it was difficult to place. Or maybe Annabeth's mind was too consumed with her own thoughts and concerns that identifying the strangers accent was a low priority. "Dehydrated?"

Annabeth eyed the woman suspiciously. "Yeah," she said finally. Claiming Percy was dehydrated made a lot more sense than telling a mortal that actually my boyfriend has a collapsed lung and is coughing blood and actually he has to get to the magical water at the end of the trail.

The woman rummaged around her Fanny pack. "Here," she said handing Annabeth several packets. "I can't give you my water but these electrolytes should help."

Annabeth took them. "Thank you."

The woman nodded. She looked at Percy again. "You think he'll be okay?"

Annabeth nodded. "Yes, he'll be fine as soon as he gets to some water."

The woman looked quizzically at Annabeth. "You know there's no place to fill your bottles, right?"

Annabeth nodded. "The rest of our group went ahead with most of our stuff," she lied.

That answer seemed to satisfy the woman and she moved away. Annabeth tore open a packet of electrolytes and dumped it into the remaining water bottle.

"Percy drink this," she stuck the bottle under his nose. He drank it.

"Okay," he said when he finished. "I'm ready."

Annabeth pulled him to his feet and they stumbled along.

After what felt like an eternity, Annabeth heard the sound of water. She looked around.

"Percy, do you hear that?"

Percy didn't say anything but kept moving forward.

Finally, they rounded a bend and Annabeth saw it. The sapphire water spilled over a set of steps and crashed into a pool. Tiny rainbows glittered in the spray. It was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen.

Annabeth urged Percy forward. She dropped her bag at the bank.

They splashed into the cool water. Immediately, Annabeth felt a surge of relief. Her own aches and pains seemed to fade away. Her sunburned skin was soothed. She realized with a start that the water actually contained magic- not just healing for a son of the Lord of water but for her as well.

Percy fell face first into the water. Which would have been funny if the situation hadn't been so serious.

He lay floating in the pool shallows, his face turned down. Annabeth gripped his shoulders and turned him up to face her.

He touched her cheek. "Thank you," he said, his voice already stronger. "You're a god damn superhero."

She laughed, partly because it was funny and mostly because she was relieved. She kissed him for a long moment.

He kissed her back, his wet hand caressing the back of her neck.

"I love you," she said.

Annabeth lay back allowing herself to rest and breathe in the shallows of the pool.

The sky glowed amazingly vibrant hues of pink and Orange, casting purple shadows across the rocky canyon.

Percy's shadow fell over her and she looked to the side. He sat on his knees peeling his wet shirt up over his head.

She watched as he rang out the water and shuffled over to a large rock where he spread the shirt out to dry. Then he returned to lay next to Annabeth. The purple mottling across his back and chest became a shade of lighter brown and yellow.

On an impulse she reached over and touched his bruised chest. He took a breath when her fingers touched his skin.

"Did that hurt?"

He looked at her. "No."

"Feeling better?"

He nodded. "Not a hundred percent, but yeah. There's something about this pool too- I don't know."

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah, I feel it too. It's healing."

Percy nodded. "I might need a few more minutes. Or hours."

She stood, her clothes dripping and water lapping at her knees. "I'll go set up the campsite. You can have all the time you need. I'll come back to check on you when I'm done."

"Thanks," he moved to a deeper place and sank down beneath the water entirely.

By the time the campsite was ready her clothing had mostly dried. Still she draped her shorts and shirts over a nearby bush to finish drying completely.

Annabeth lay back on top of the bedroll, the small tent shut for privacy. The exhaustion of the day catching up to her. She fidgeted with the hair tie on her wrist.

What were they going to do about food and water? Now that the adrenaline had worn off, Annabeth felt hungry.

She rummaged through the bag by the light of a small lantern and found a few loose bags of trail mix and jerky. She split the rations in half, saving the portion she didn't eat for Percy.

As she moved around the tent, another object caught her attention: the cutsie pink bag Aphrodite had given her.

What had she said? "You might find one or two goodies to help on your journey"?

Annabeth unzipped the bag and hesitated a moment before reaching into it and pulling out a lipstick tube.

"Oh, that's helpful," She rolled her eyes. Squinting she read the label:

Luscious lips, moisturizing lipstick and chap protection. For use in extreme weather conditions. Paraban and phthalate free.

She searched for the fine print.. Her chapped lips could have really used the moisture but she worried that there could be some terrible magical curse associated with its application.

There was no fine print. She decided to risk it and opened the tube. Her lips tingled as she rubbed on the product. She could feel the cracks and dry skin closing up.

"Well okay then," she muttered. "That actually was helpful."

She reached back into the bag and pulled out a black cardboard box, about this size of a pack of gum, that rattled as she took it out. Delicately drawn pink heart's decorated the box.

Annabeth dropped the box, cursing as she realized what it was. She didn't need to see the fine print this time.

The last thing she pulled out of the bag really was a pack of gum.

Aphrodite's EXTRA meal replacement chewing gum. Say goodbye to bloat! Use one piece daily for your nutrition supplementation, not to exceed two doses in a 12 hour period.

*this product has not been evaluated by the FDA*

Annabeth took a piece. It tasted like regular mint gum at first but as she chewed she couldn't help picturing a full course meal. It wasn't just that she imagined she was eating real food, her mind refused to accept that she was simply chewing gum. Within minutes she felt as though she had eaten her fill.

She spat the gum out, wrapping it in a tissue. "I hope I don't turn into a blueberry."

She lay back, stretching out on the bedroll and before she could say anything negative about the goddess of love, her eyes closed and she fell asleep.