The Arranged Marriage (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Five

Percy sunk into a chair, his shirt and hands covered in blood. Annabeth was beside him, and to his left was Thalia.

"How is he doing?" Annabeth asked quietly, as if she didn't want Thalia to hear her.

Percy turned to Annabeth. "Well. He's stable, so there's that, but their is damage to his lungs and diaphragm. He is having trouble breathing, but he seems to be getting better already. He still has a long time in the infirmary to look forward to."

Annabeth gulped. "That . . . That sounds scary. For you and him."

"It definitely is," he agreed, "but his doctor is the best we have, Will Solace."

"I hope he gets better soon," Annabeth whispered before going silent once again.

Percy made a face before nodding. "Thanks. I do too."

"Perce." Thalia said. "What are we planning on doing? Trading shifts? Should one of us be here at all times?"

Percy bit his lip, thinking. "I think that we shouldn't make ourselves stay over night. We'll just fall asleep, and be no use, plus there will be night shift doctors, but as far as day time, I would say yes. We can do three shifts—Jason and you, Annabeth and I, and Connor and Travis—or we can do six shifts."

"I say we do three," Thalia proposed, "that will make it easier. To talk to someone, I mean."

Percy nodded.

"Jason and I will take first shift," Thalia volunteered, probably seeing Percy's face worn with exhaustion.

Percy nodded again, not having the energy to speak. He beckoned for Annabeth to follow him and she complied, seemingly realizing that Percy didn't want to argue.

The journey back to the palace was a long one, it was quiet and awkward. Annabeth seemed to not know what to say to Percy.

"He is a close friend of yours?" She finally asked.

Percy jumped, his reverie disrupted by Annabeth's voice. "Who?" Percy thought for a moment. "Oh. Nico . . . Yes. He was one of my first friends. He's my cousin actually. So are Thalia and Jason."

Annabeth nodded somberly. "I'm sorry." Her eyes suddenly lit up. "I'll be right back. Can you hold down the fort for a few?"

Percy nodded, his eyebrow raised in question, but Annabeth had already swept out of the hospital wing, determination set in her stride.

* * *

After a painstaking thirty minutes of silence, and nothing to do but twiddle his thumbs, Percy was restless. Had Annabeth simply made an excuse to get out of the stuffy hospital wing waiting room?

But no. She hadn't. She was striding towards him then, a tray of food balanced in her hands. She ha. An apron wrapped around her dress and her hair was falling into her eyes. Blowing escaped, pesky hairs out of her eyes, she placed the tray of food down in front of Percy.

Percy, stunned, opened his mouth to ask her where she had gotten such glorious food, but the question died on his lips because Annabeth seemed to have been anticipating his reaction. "I never said I couldn't cook," she said simply, then added, "and I swear I didn't poison you."

Percy want sure whether to be worried or relived that she had to clarify. Nevertheless, he was astounded by Annabeth's gesture of kindness and her hard work. "Wow. Thank you so much."

Annabeth didn't seem to be done explaining yet though. "Also," she told Percy, "there are a few softer items for Nico if his doctor okay's them all."