Fated To Fall: PJO

Percy should never touch a bow

As Theo made his way to the infirmary, he let his mind wander again. Was Grover okay? He felt a stab of guilt as he realized he never said goodbye to his friend before he left Yancy. He realized that both of Grover's friends left him.

He stepped into the infirmary, searching for Percy's room when a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Theo squinted, trying to get a glimpse.

"Hello?"

The movement stopped, the outline of a person turning around.

The boy lifted his head, Theo let out a sound of surprise, "Grover? What are you doing here?"

Grover lifted his head, an indescribable emotion flickering in his eyes, "I kinda live here. I brought Percy here."

Theo's brows furrowed. A million thoughts ran through his mind faster than he could process them.

Grover took his silence as anger, "I swear I was supposed to bring both of you but your dad insisted that he be the one to take you and explain and then I promised Sally that I would get Percy here as soon as possible and--" He was cut off by Theo pulling him into a hug.

"You're not mad?" Grover questioned as he put his arms around Theo, squeezing just as tightly as Theo.

Theo stepped back, "Of course not. I'm a little upset you didn't tell me, but you're one of my best friends. Of course I'm not mad--" He stopped suddenly, "What happened to your legs!"

Grover looked down confusedly, "What do you, oh! Right, I'm a satyr."

Theo sighed, "Unfortunately, I think that might be the least craziest thing I've heard today."

Grover couldn't help but laugh, "I'm not done. I'm also 24. But uh, you had the tour I take it?"

"Yeah actua-- You're 24?" Theo asked in shock before shaking his head, "We'll come back to that. Do you know where Percy is? I wanted to see him."

"Yeah, he's over here, I was just leaving." Grover said, a pained look on his face as he led the younger boy to Percy's room was.

"Well, he doesn't look too bad. Considering he fought the Minotaur." Theo joked trying to get Grover to cheer up. It didn't work considering the satyr paled even further.

"Thank the gods, but you, Theo. Gods, I thought you were going to die. The look of you when Clarisse carried you in..." He trailed off, his eyes looking watery before shaking his head.

Theo swallowed back the lump in his throat as he pulled his best friend into another hug, whispering reassurances.

Grover stepped back, clearing his throat, "I gotta go check in with Mr. D, give you some time with Percy."

Theo simply nodded and sat down by the bed as he left.

They sat there like that in silence for a few minutes, Theo staring at the unconscious body of his best friend and Percy not moving.

Theo took a shaky breath, "What happened to us?" He joked. "One day I'm telling you I sent a teacher packing and not allowed to go on a field trip and the next gods are real and we're attacked by monsters."

He stared at in silence for a few more seconds, "And then you have to go and almost die. And Sally... God, she's really gone isn't she? Jesus. I'm so sorry man. Really."

As Theo continued to talk to Percy's sleeping form, a girl stands in the doorway, observing the scene. Her gray eyes glitter as she steps inside the room.

"You're Theo, right? Theo Salvatore?"

Theo's head shot up in surprise, "Yeah? Who are you?"

The girl's eyes widened imperceptibly as she recognized his face before she schooled her face and gave a small smile, "I'm Annabeth. I'm the one who found your friend. Just a little before you were found, as a matter of fact."