Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (Percico)

Chapter Four: Part Three

Percy

Annabeth approached the stand.

It hadn't taken long to do much of anything. She confessed right on the spot. It was a rape, she went further than she was aware I was comfortable with, without my consent, after I told her to stop twice.

That's rape.

And you know, that wasn't the hardest part of my day. Not by a long shot.

It wasn't the after effects of what happened. People telling me to man up and enjoy it. She had sex with me, I should've liked it.

That wasn't the hardest part.

The hardest part was the text and voicemail I recurved during the trial. A message I didn't see until afterwords, due to not being able to access my phone during the trial.

I looked at it after my parents had left. I was with Nico. We we're about to get ready to go on a date to celebrate.

It was from Gabe.

Dad: Hey, Percy, I managed to find your number in the phone book. So don't be weirded out when you get this message.

It's been a while, and you might not want a damn thing to do with me anymore, and that's okay. I get that. I wouldn't want anything to do with me anymore.

It's Gabe. And I'm not asking you to meet with me unless you want to. I'm not even asking you to respond to this message or pick up the call I'll make just in case this doesn't send. I just want to apologize.

I was about as shitty of a parent as you could get, it's true. I wasn't much better of a husband. I was worse to you, without a doubt, but your mother deserved so much better. And I genuinely hope that you both got better after I left. Had I never started drinking, none of this would've happened. Maybe we'd still be a family. Going to Montauk every few months, swimming on the beach, teasing you about boys.

There was a lot of things I should've done and shouldn't have done. I should've never touched you. I can't go a day without that coming up in my brain anymore. I should've never hurt your mom. I should've told her that me and alcohol have never mixed well.

I don't drink anymore. I've been sober going on four years now. I stopped smoking about two years ago. I've gambled once, when my nephew turned 21 and we brought him to Vegas. It wasn't much, just a little fun. So I've at least tried to stay clean. I'd that changes anything, maybe how you think of me now. I wouldn't think it'd convince you to do anything else.

Bottom line is that I was an asshole. I knew your dad wasn't around and I willingly took that role when your mom told me about that when we got together and I met you and you were the sweetest kid. You called me Dad for years.

Outside of that, I haven't remarried, I still don't have any kids of my own, and I'm managing; in New York right now. It's... It's been going. And if you ever need to go to someone, I'm a call or a text away. I don't expect you to. But if you ever need that, it's there.

Find someone that makes you happy, Percy. You deserve it more than anyone I know.

I started to cry as soon as he said he was a shitty parent. And I just... I was at a loss.

"Hey, Per..." He was probably going to ask what shirt I liked better, knowing Nico and all. But he saw my tears, and instantly began to worry. Which I was grateful for. She never gave a shit about if I cried. She called me a baby every time I did. He hurried over to me. "Oh my gods, babe, are you okay?"

I nodded my head, because I was. This was just... The timing. I would've cried either way, it's Gabe and he sobered up.

But he was just so sincere. And I had this urge to call and it was ripping me apart.