The Crash: (Heroes of Olympus)

Chapter 4

Thalia

I got off the plane, shaking. I had IMed Chiron in the plane bathroom and he gave me the information on the hospital. I tried to hail a taxi, wishing I had Percy here as taxi after taxi whizzed past me. Finally, I managed to get one, and got in. I told the driver where I wanted to go, and he drove off.  I tried not to think about the same condition my brother and my friends would be in when I got there. So of course, I couldn't get that off my mind.

When I got to the hospital, I found Sally and Paul sitting in the waiting room.
"Thalia," she said, standing up and hugging me. I smiled and hugged her back.
"How are they, Sally?"  I asked. She took a deep, ragged breath.
"I don't really know, Thalia. They won't tell me much."
"But you must know something?" I asked. Sally looked at me sadly.
"I do, actually. It's about Annabeth," Sally said. I stiffened.
"The doctor told us she's going to be paralysed." Sally said. I felt rage like I'd never felt before. I turned around and threw and angry punch into the wall. Paul grabbed my arms.
"Thalia, what are you doing?" he asked. I felt like I'd been deflated.
"I-I don't know. I'm so sorry," I muttered, looking at the ground. Paul took my hand, stood up, and led me over to the front desk.
"Excuse me, ma'am," he said, "Can I have information on Jason Grace please?"
"Family only, Mr. Jackson, I told you that already," she said in a monotone.
"Madam, this is his older sister. I won't go with her if you don't want me to, but she deserves to see her brother," he said. The woman nodded.
"Name?"
"Thalia Grace"
"How old are you?"
"I'm nineteen." Paul didn't react to my lie.
"And how are you related to Jason Grace?"
"He's my half brother. Same mom, different dads."
"And where are your parents?" I bit my lip.
"All three of them died."
"So who is Mr. Grace's guardian?"
"That would be me" I said. She sighed.
"Alright, he's on the third floor. Room 345."

I quickly said goodbye to Paul and Sally and rushed over to the elevators, which carried me to the third floor. After getting directions from a couple different people, I managed to find my brother's room. When I went in, I had to steady myself against the wall. He was lying on the bed, a bandage around his forehead, his left arm in a sling. His face and hands were covered in cuts and bruises. There was an ominously large bloodspot on the blanket over his left leg. I lifted the blanket to see a bandage wrapped around his knee. I took his hand and sank into a chair, realising how tired I was.
"God damn it Jason, how could you do this to me," I said. His eyes opened.
"Thalia?" he asked. I smiled at him.
"Yeah, it's me. Why?"
"What happened?" he asked.
"There was a car accident"
"Piper?"
"She's in the hospital too, but I don't know where."
"And Percy?"
"They won't even let Sally and Paul see him yet, you've got no chance." I said, the words physically hurting me.
"I need to see Piper," he said. I looked at the floor.
"I'll see what I can do," I murmured, standing up and leaving.