"Okay, what do you have for me ?" Annabeth said as she pulled on the gloves, walking alongside Leo.
"We have an unresponsive male, mostly in his twenties, who was reportedly jogging when he was found unconscious," Leo said as he hurried over to open the emergency room.
Annabeth walked in to see Hazel defribilating, the patient coughing violently, The nurse quickly removed the oxygen mask, and the face made Annabeth's breath stop, Percy, his face was pale and in distress, he's breath was raggedy as he started to cough up blood.
Annabeth quickly grabbed some gauze and a towel, holding it up to his mouth" Here" she said as she rubbed his back, soothing him.
There was a nasty gash on his right deltoid, probably from a fall on a hard and rocky surface. It was dirty with a mixture of blood and mud, she motioned Hazel to clean up the wound.
"How are you feeling?" Annabeth asked, concerned, as he stopped coughing. He took a deep breath and lay back down, turning towards her.
"Yeah, not great. The taste of blood sucks." He made a face.
"Here, drink this," Annabeth said as she handed him a bottle of water.
He drank the water down in one big gulp. He crunched his face and hissed looking at the wound as Hazel started to clean it.
"Oww!" Percy yelled, looking at Hazel wincingly, "Sorry" he murmured.
"Hazel, he's massively bleeding. Give him some morphine before you clean it; he'll need it for the stitches, too." Annabeth said, examining the wound again.
"So is this a heart attack, cuz it sure does feel like one" Percy asked
"I don't know, I'd have to run some tests to find out" Annabeth replied
Hazel grabbed the morphine bottle and a syringe. Annabeth turned her attention back to Percy, "What were you thinking going for a run in this condition?".
"Hey! It's not like I went for a cheeseburger " Percy scowled and held up his hand in defence.
Annabeth sighed; she looked him over. His nicely fitting T-shirt, which showed off the good stuff, was drenched in sweat, and his jaw was clenched from the pain, his usually pink-tinted face was now pale almost ghostly.
"Hazel book him for an EKG and Cardiac enzyme" Annabeth said, glancing at her watch. The time running way too quickly for her liking "Uh I've got a patient to check up on, so page me when you get the results "
She looked at Percy "I'll be back in a while, do you want me to call Grover ?"
He shook his head, his eyes getting heavy. His hair was plastered to his forehead, and a single strand of his hair was sticking out of place, catching her eye. Before she could stop herself, she reached out to smooth it back into place. His hair was soft yet stubborn. Percy held her gaze with a small smile on his face. Hazel's movements halted as she eyed her, raising an eyebrow.
Annabeth reluctantly pulled her hand back "Keep me posted, and don't leave him alone" she declared, looking at neither of them as she turned around and left, a string of silent curses leaving her mouth.
They laid Percy on the stretcher, with a nurse holding him around the shoulder. He was oddly grinning, laughing at something the nurse had just said. He laughed so hard that it made him lose his balance, almost doubling over the stretcher.
"His EKG and cardiac enzymes were normal so that rules out a heart attack. Now we're doing a coronary angiogram to rule out dissection or aneurysm." Hazel informed Annabeth, her hands flying across the keyboard. Annabeth was relieved to hear that, a heart attack is like a warning from the body, telling you to slow down or it will slow it down for you.
"Dr Chase, you okay to stay on the case? , considering your relationship with the patient, uh your personal relation ?" Chiron asked examining her cautiously, breaking her chain of thoughts, she turned towards him, crossing her arms, if he had even the slightest idea of the situation they were in, he would have kicked her out right now.
"Dr. Chiron, I've already told you: it's just a business arrangement; there's no more to it than that." She replied, shrugging her shoulders, but there was more to it, he defiantly liked her but did she ?, she shook her head, it would just complicate things, and Annabeth already had complicated in her life, She looked back at the machine and decided to go inside.
She opened the door and walked in. Percy was now nicely tucked onto the stretcher. An IV bag waiting to be injected into him. She reached over to the IV bag glancing down at him "How are you feeling?"
"Great, great, " he said as he flashed her a grin "Great, great, great "
"So the morphine finally kicked in, " she said smiling at him, he cracked up at her, an amusing smile etched its way on her face.
"Yup, yup"
She reached for him, pulling his arm towards her, the other hand holding the injection "Well enjoy the ride ".
"Hmm, I've been thinking.…… Ow " he said as the needle entered his cubital vein "Yeah so I've been thinking about... Why do your dates go so bad, so so bad "
"That's not your fault," he said drawing his words out " ..….. It's mine.… I'm not the guy on them with you " he said nodding his head, she looked at him inquisitively, her eyes widening, it caught Annabeth off guard, she hesitantly looked away, clearing her throat "We're ready " she said to Hazel across the glass.
She turned around to leave, but Percy caught her arm "You're my wife, your my hot wife -"
"Percy-."
"And as your husband.…, let's do this, let's be together, I mean look at you, look at your eyes, I could look into your eyes my whole life," he said a big smile on his face. She couldn't deny that what he said didn't make her heart flutter a bit, but it was the setting that made her conscious.
She slowly looked back at the glass, Chiron stood there with a clenched jaw, an ire expression on his face, Hazel covered her face and shook her head, she internally winced, her luck just kept getting worse.
She tapped Percy's hand with her other hand "How about we first get this scan, huh?" she said as she pulled her hand out of his grasp, walking out, she prepared for the wreck that was about to break loose.
"A business arrangement?!"
Annabeth motioned at Percy "he's hopped up on painkillers!"
"Which just means his inhibitions are down " he pointed out, his finger accusingly pointed in her direction.
"Oh come on " Annabeth scoffed " and even if his feelings are real, mine are not, I don't feel the same way, I don't !"
"And the scans are up!" Hazel declared out loud
The imaging on the screen popped up, Annabeth bent down to get a closer look, and she clicked on the image for a better view " dammit, he's got a mass, it's near his heart "
"I'm gonna have to open him up before it bleeds, right away, " she said straightening up
"You," Chiron said his eyes squinting " I'm not even sure I should let you in the OR, let alone allow you to operate "
"Chief with all due respect-
"I'll do it -" Hezel piped up
"It's a highly delicate surgery "
"I soloed on a similar surgery last month, I nailed it!" Hazel said looking at Annabeth "Is what you said " she added.
"Problem solved, Levesque will do the surgery and you will supervise " Chiron declared
"Chief -"
"I've made my decision Dr chase, now if you will excuse me, " Chiron said as he walked past her "Also meet me when you're done with the surgery "
Annabeth looked down at Hazel, an innocent smile on her face "What? He was kicking you out of the OR, at least this way you'll stay in "
Annabeth shook her head, massaging her temples. "It's a win-win," Hazel said, showing off her pearl-white teeth. She walked out of the scan room, making her way up to the common room where Piper, Selena, Leo and Katie—the peds resident—sat. Annabeth slumped onto a couch across from them.
"I say he's total gay," Piper said as she sipped her coffee, kicked her shoes off and sat cross-legged on the sofa, leaning back.
"Why would he be gay?" Selena asked, her hands quickly knitting something purple.
"Why would some guy wait a whole month to ask someone out?" Piper asked, looking at Annabeth and smiling. Annabeth gave her a confused look. "It's Travis, the plastics guy. He asked Katie out today." Piper informed.
"Maybe he has herpes," Leo said.
"He is not gay and nor does have herpes, we just have a lot of interesting things to talk about, " Katie said defensively "and he's a nice guy once you get to know him"
"That's why she's taking her pants off for him tonight," Leo said, with a mouthful of chips.
"What" the other two asked in astonishment, Piper almost spilling her drink and selena nearly tore the incomple whatever she was making.
"They're going to his place" he further informed them, a smirk on his face, which earned him a glare from Katie
"Oh, pants are coming off," Piper said shaking her head.
"Nobody's pants are coming off," Katie said, exasperatedly.
"You'll be at his place, that's the definition of pants coming off," Annabeth said, grinning at Katie, who turned a light shade of red.
"A younger man too" Piper added, laughing, while Leo cheered on, unable to control his laughter as well.
"I'm not taking my pants off for Travis!" Katie cried out as she stood up and stormed out of the room. Piper started laughing even harder, to which Selena shook her head, and Leo chuckled while following Katie out.
" Well, I'll be going then ,I can't believe I have four hours of shift still left!" Selena pouted.
"Oh, I'm sure it'll pass, especially with the charms of a muscular trauma surgeon," Piper said as she recovered from laughing so hard, and playfully shoved Selena.
"Gods' piper, I'm not the only one " Selena commented back as she wiggled her eyebrows.
It was pipers turn to blush, now "Girls gotta do what they've got to do"
Selena nodded as she smiled and winked at Annabeth "You know I know all about your hottie husband too"
"Well, who doesn't? Also, he's my husband, but we're only married on paper, which is something Chiron won't understand like he won't let me operate on him because I am related to him."
"Is he here for surgery?" Piper asked her eyebrows furrowed, an eccentric look on her face
"yeah he has a mass near his heart, he was unconscious when they brought him in" Annabeth informed them.
"Oh that sucks, " Selena said, she got up and stretched, "I hope he gets better, I'll visit him " Then she walked over to the door "I like him, you know, he's a good person " and with that, she was gone.
"Does Chiron know about the ...?" Piper motioned
"No God, No. I wouldn't even be here if he knew ." Annabeth shook her head. "I have something to tell you."
"Yeah, what "
"He was high on morphine, and he said something." Annabeth sighed, Piper motioned for her to continue. "He, 'said that he wanted us to be together,' along with a bunch of stuff.'
"So, you told him...?"
"I didn't tell him anything " Annabeth retorted
"well, why not?"
"'he said it in front of Chiron "
"OHH WHAT!!?" Piper exclaimed, "Oh that's bad." Annabeth nodded, "I know."
"This becomes very complicated now"
"I know that, I just hope he doesn't mean it," Annabeth said, burying her face in her hands.
" You know, it's the truth. It was morphine. Half the stuff that comes out of anyone's mouth is true." Piper pointed out, that she slipped the rest of her coffee, took a deep breath, placed it on the table and leaned forward, her sole focus on Annabeth.
"Here's what you have to do " she instructed "Do not, and I mean, do not do anything except what I tell you ", Annabeth nodded cautiously, when it came to relationships, Piper was the best there was, but considering her own love life at the moment, Annabeth wouldn't bet on anything she has to say right now, but she listened
"Tell him you don't want him, make it abundantly clear, like nail it in his head clear, and for god's sake tell him not to spew all this romantic stuff in front of just anyone "
Annabeth leaned back on her sofa, thinking it over, it did sound good, making it clear, that she didn't want a relationship right now, more than ever.
"sooo?" Piper asked getting impatient, her eyebrows furrowed together.
"yah ok, I got it, " Annabeth said, showing her a thumbs up, her pager beeped, signalling her, for the pre-op checkup on Percy, she got up, she reached the threshold when Piper called her.
"and for god's sake, DON'T fall in love with him "
Annabeth rolled her eyes at her, a chuckle escaping her throat.
Annabeth made her way to the front reception on the fourth floor, saying, "Percy Jackson." The lady typed in the name and clicked a few buttons, announcing, "Room 104." Annabeth nodded thanking her and walked towards the room.
"How are we feeling?" Annabeth asked.
He took a deep breath, "Good, better knowing that I'm gonna be in your hands."
"hazel-dr Levesque will be performing your surgery, 'll be supervising" Annabeth explained as she walked over to stand beside his bed
"I don't understand why aren't you performing the surgery ?"
"Well you and I are technically married and the hospital doesn't allow the surgeons to treat family members "
Hazel walked in, she stopped when she saw them, her eyes darting back and forth, between them, Annabeth motioned for her to come in, she silently walked to Percy and started checking his monitor charts and reports.
" right cuz how can you be objective if your feelings get in the way," he said beamingly "Is it bad that I'm a little flattered, that you won't operate on me "
Annabeth looked away, skating her head she looked at Hezel who had a smile on her face, annabeth cleared her throat " Dr Levesque is an excellent surgeon, you're in good hands, I'll see you after the surgery " Annabeth said and turned out to leave.
"she's into me right ?" Percy asked Hazel, a smile on his face
Hazel chuckled, "I don't know; but I'm rooting for you." She said as she grabbed his arm and injected the needle.
" Ready to dissect the tumour "Hazel informed, her hand as steady as ever, Annabeth watched with an intense gaze, her eyes fixed on the hazel movement
"slow and steady, the slightest movement could land his heart in hypotensive crises " Annabeth instructed
"I got it, "Hazel said confidently
" steady levesque" Annabeth said in a stern voice, she did have full confidence in Hazel but her heart kept thumping like a caged bird in desperation.
" okay" Hazel dragged her words out " and I've got it " She pulled out a small globular mass and placed it in the tray.
"ok good, start to irrigate "Annabeth sighed in relief but that was short-lived because soon the machines started to beep loudly, alerting them that something had gone wrong
"BP'S shooting up " the nurse informed them
"What did you do Hazel," Annabeth asked in a panicked voice
"I don't know" she replied, looking up "Uh suction," she said to the second assistant beside her.
"dammit Hazel" Annabeth scolded, her feet itching to move over to the operation table
"I got it, calm down," Hazel said, her hands deep in the body cavity, the machine still blaring did not help calm her down.
"alright check for any residual tumour," Annabeth said, her voice an octave higher, hazel nodded looking for the damage or the tumour " dammit I need more light," she said, annabeth eyes kept darting, Towards the bp monitor, its was still increasing, not a good sign " hazel, did you find anything?"
Hazel was fast working, her hands moving like a skilled robot, "Hazel?" Annabeth called, but Hazel was immersed in the work "Hazel I need you to talk to me " Annabeth warned, her voice filled with panic.
when there was still no reply, Annabeth rushed over to the table "Do you need me to do this ?" She asked sternly, her eyes focused in the cavity, she couldn't see much of anything from above hazels shoulder
"Shhhh, stop behaving like a scared wife " Hazel whispered angrily, Annabeth blinked, not anticipating such a reply, but backed away just a bit, enough to peek over her shoulder.
"All alright I've got it, " Hazel said pulling out another mass, annabeth let go of the breath she didn't realise she was holding, simultaneously, the machine stopped beeping, and his BP was lowering at the normal range.
Hazel slightly turned around at Annabeth, she whispered " I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that, you're my superior-"
"no no, it's fine "Annabeth shook her head "It just..." her mouth suddenly dry " Thank you," she said slowly, her voice barely audible, but Hazel nodded and turned around back to Percy, "Four o proline " she asked for the stitches.
annabeth waited for a couple of minutes, making sure everything was under control, once satisfied she made Har way out of the OR, pulling off her groves and scrubs, and she remembered she still had to go meet the chief. As she made her way towards the elevator, Jason stopped her "Hey Annabeth, you gotta minute?" He asked
"uh yah what's the matter?"
"I was wondering" he sang out " if you talk to Reyna for me about-?" He asked with the most sincere smile on his face
"About Piper and you?" Annabeth supplied
"yes" he nodded "I just want you to lay out the groundwork for me " he pleaded
"I guess I could give it a shot "Annabeth suggested "but I can't promise anything" she added carefully, to Jason gave her a grin "Thank you Annabeth "
Annabeth nodded and started to walk into the elevator, and he quickly held the elevator doors open, gods they both had this worst habit of keeping people waiting in the elevator. Annabeth gave him her infamous annoyed look.
"would you mind keeping this conversation between us ?"
" of course Jason, don't worry," she said giving him a sweet smile as she slapped his hands away, the elevator doors closed and the ascent started. Annabeth wondered what Chiron wanted to talk about, hopefully not her mother, Chiron knew Athena from his days in residency, she was his class fellow, which is also why he understood the enigma that was her mother. After Mother went to Europe for higher research, Chiron was the one who kept an eye out for her, he knew everything about Annabeth's sad childhood and her unfortunate present.
ding
the elevator doors opened to the west wing, and she walked out onto the floor, going onto the main bridge overlooking the hospital's main entrance and behind the most beautiful look of the city from the hospital, she had spent multiple night shifts during her residency, sitting on this bridge.
She walked towards the double doors that led to the office of the chief, she took a deep breath and knocked softly on the door, "come in "a strong voice came from inside. Annabeth slowly pushed open the doors, inside sat Chiron in his well-lumbar supported revolving chair behind his desk that was flooded with papers and files, only a single photo frame on his desk, the one with his friends on a camping trip, with him holding a giant tuna.
Annabeth walked in, as she had many times in the previous years, "sit" Chiron motioned to the chair opposite him, as she sat down, he took off his glasses and leaned back on his chair "How are you doing Annabeth?" He asked, a small smile on his face
Annabeth nodded "I'm doing good ", he nodded as well " I realised, I have been hard on you, with everything that has happened this past year and now your mom visiting, I'm sorry " he apologised
Annabeth blinked, not sure what to say, she swallowed hard "You don't need to apologise, I think I dug this mess out for myself" she finally confessed "At least the Luke one "
Chiron cleared his throat, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk" What are your feelings regarding Percy ?" He asked his voice a little strained.
"Sir, I have no feelings for him, I've made that-" Chiron held up his hand cutting her off.
"Look, Annabeth dear, you know I only want what's best for you," he said sincerely "It's not bad that you have feelings for him," he said slowly coming to the point, which was making a tad bit uncomfortable "its bad that he has feelings for you "
Annabeth gave him a confused look, was it her fault that he fell in love with her, It was not like she asked or better yet forced him to fall in love with her. Chiron sighed "I mean, look, I've known Percy since he was diagnosed two years ago, he's a good guy and under any other circumstance, I probably wouldn't care much, but he and you have gone through a lot of tough times, and I'm scared for the both of you, he is resilient, I know for a fact he won't back off, which is why I'm asking you" he finished
"asking me what?" Annabeth, still not getting the slightest of the ideas on what he was referring to
"To not lead him into this feigned hope that you might want to be with him" he said, his eyes soft on hers, but still showing the sternness. Annabeth bit her lip, she looked down at her hands "I'm not denying that I don't care for him because I do " she shrugged her shoulders" but you're right, I've been through a lot, and frankly I do think, I don't want this right now " she said, her voice small as she finally looked into her mentor's eyes, who was analysing her but smiled softly
"then tell him that," he told her " he needs to hear it Annabeth ".
"Okay" she nodded
"Now, on it your mother," he said a playful smile on his lips, annabeth groaned " oh come on ", to which he laughed , the corner of his eyes crinkling .
"Lord save me " she muttered darkly.
"It was a clean incision, we got cleanly margined and you're gonna be okay" Annabeth softly, as she placed the earpiece around his chest, Percy held her gaze, not veering even for a minute, he licked his lip as if hesitating "So what I said before, about your eyes " he swallowed "I meant it, it wasn't the painkillers "
"Percy, you have to stop it," Annabeth said shaking her head, she stepped back, pulling off her stethoscope "You are going to have to stop talking about my eyes" She closed her eyes "You have to stop flirting with me-"
"You right I'm sorry " he interrupted, she opened her eyes, her face sceptical, looking at her expression he rolled his eyes " ok I'm not sorry, I meant it " he emphasised "If not more "
"I get it," Annabeth said "It's a great story " she agreed "We get married to save your life and we fall in love, and how romantic is that, " she said, "not to mention you are smart and funny and not at all hard on the eyes," she said softly almost wistful "and I would be lying to say that it has never crossed my mind " she whispers breaking the eye contact, then she sighed, her lips parted as if on the verge of saying something, she runs her fingers through her curls " but I don't feel it, it's not real, it's just a good story " she finishes, finally meeting his eyes, an apologetic look in her face
"what's so wrong with a good story," Percy asks, a tired look on his face, almost challenging her to say something.
The blonde stares at him for a second, her stormy grey eyes analysing him, almost boring into him, he watches her take a deep breath, her lips pursed " I'm sorry " she says and before he can say anything, she turns around and leaves.
Okayyy I'm back, hope you guys enjoy it, this chap took a lot of time and effort, so I hope it pays off, as always let me know your opinions and thoughts 3!