The Choosing (Percabeth AU)

46. Three Days

Piper watched wordlessly as Thalia's eyes, puffy from crying focused on her. She looked livid.

The royal children stood in the infirmary, watching Jason. He looked pale. Like a corpse, almost.

"What exactly happened again?!" Thalia hissed looking at her brother.

"I...wanted to talk to Jason about something. And in the middle of our conversation he...um...  fainted," Piper lied, her voice cracking. A fresh pool of tears collected in her eyes. She couldn't bring herself to look at any of them. Or Jason.

It had been three days.

Jason had not woken up.

Everyone held on to a tendril of hope. But it seemed to be fading everytime they saw the unconscious boy.

They had seen so much death and heartbreak in these last few months, one more could break their sanity.

"Your Majesties," a guard said, entering the room with a solemn bow.

"Yes what is it?" Annabeth asked. He looked at her.

"Her Majesty Queen Aphrodite wanted to inform you that Princess-"

"She's not a princess anymore," Reyna snarled.

The guard looked flustered. He bowed again. "Forgive me. The prisoner Drew has still not been found. The investigation into her disappearance is still ongoing."

"And what about the investigation of Prince.....Prince Jason?" Reyna asked. Her voice wavered at the last part, which was unusual for the stoic princess. But nobody could blame her, considering her rather complicated relationship with him.

"The investigation is not yeilding fruitful results, Your Highness," the guard admitted, shifting awkwardly on his feet. "Our best guess is that Drew poisoned Prince Jason, but that's a given."

Out of the corner of her eye, Piper watched as Percy placed a kiss on Annabeth's temple. Luke hugged Thalia and the rest of the lot looked pretty grim.

Well it's not the whole truth. But it's not a lie either, Piper thought. She felt ashamed.

"Keep us updated. Dismissed," Thalia comanded. Luke whispered something in her ear. She relented, "and Thankyou."

The guard nodded and with another bow, and practically sprinted out of the room.

"You all should leave. Prince needs quiet. He's in a lot of ouchies," Bob the Doc said, entering the room.

He wore a large white coat, a cat resting happily in the front pocket meowed in agreement.

Will emerged from behind him. He nodded as well. "I'll let you guys know if there's any progress."

Thalia opened her mouth to protest, but Luke ushered her out the door. Everyone followed behind them.

"Hey," Annabeth smiled, lingering behind. She placed a hand on Piper's shoulder. "He's going to get better," she said. She seemed to be assuring herself more than Piper.

"It's just-" a sob racked through Piper's body. This is all she had been doing. Sobbing nonstop. She hadn't had a meal in days. The only thing that kept her going were the granola bars and water Bob the Doc stuffed into her throat.

Annabeth held Piper as she sobbed into her shoulder. She patted her friend's hair. "Shhhh Pipes. It's not your fault," she consoled.

If only she knew how untrue that was.

"I just want a few more minutes," Piper sniffed, rubbing her face with the back of her hand. Annabeth nodded. And with a final reassuring glance she left. Exiting with a Percy who hovered by the door at a respectable distance.

Piper forced herself to walk to Jason's bed and sit beside him. She held his hand. It was cold.

"I'm so sorry, Jason," she cried. She kissed his temple, her tears wet his face. "I'm so so sorry. Please come back. I'll leave you alone. I'll do anything. Please come back. I love you," she silently sobbed.

Jason's heart monitor beeped. Piper rejoiced. Yes yes yes, she thought, happiness filling her heart.

It beeped loudly and started going crazy.

Piper's voice got caught in her chest. She wanted to scream for help but she couldn't move.

The heart monitor beeped feverenly and loudly. Jason's heartbeat moved rapidly. Until.....

It stopped.

Piper screamed.

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—— S & D