PJO/HOO One Shots

The World Was Ending

The title is based on both the famous quote "The world was collapsing, and the only thing that really mattered to me was that she was alive," (Riordan) and the song "If the World Was Ending" by JP Saxe. The plotline is also based on "If the World Was Ending."

Unedited, but enjoy :)

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Point of view: Alternating third person

Type: Song-fic AU

Main Ship: Percabeth

Word Count: 4496

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Percy Jackson believed hospitals were simultaneously the best and worst places on earth. Large quantities of people were anxiously waiting in the lobby of a hospital each day. Hundreds of thousands of people are born every day; hundreds of thousands of people die every day. People were getting life-changing news, for better or for worse. The least the staff could do was provide comfortable seats.

As Percy waited impatiently in the yellow-walled waiting room of his local hospital, several random thoughts were running through his mind. One was the aforementioned: why were hospital chairs so uncomfortable? A second was of what was going on in a certain doctor's office, behind the heavy metal doors. A third was of a particular blonde he had not seen in months.

Glancing around the room, Percy spotted a young lady with a protruding stomach, cradling it protectively. He also caught eyes with an elderly man clutching the hand of what looked to be his wife. Another middle-aged guy was bouncing a toddler girl on his knee, smiling at her affectionately. What were these people's backstories? Were any of them facing troubles similar to Percy's?

Percy's ADHD drew his attention to a door swinging open. Three ladies stepped out from the small room where patients checked in. Two of them headed towards the intimidating metal doors, whilst the third made her way toward the waiting area, where Percy was.

The bubbly secretary waltzed over to Percy and tapped his shoulder. "Mr. Jackson?" she chirped.

Percy glanced up and made eye contact with the pretty girl. "That's me," he murmured. 

The secretary giggled. "You're with Sally, right?

"Yes. Is her appointment finished?'

With a quick head nod, the flirtatious attitude melted away and a professional mask covered the girl's face. "Yes. She's requested you into the office. Would you like me to accompany you, or do you know the way?"

"Are you good at giving directions?" Percy asked curiously.

The secretary shrugged. "I'll be the first to admit I'm not the best with words."

Percy sighed and stood up. Although the girl was gorgeous, he was in the mood for some time alone with his thoughts. "Then lead the way."

She twirled her chocolate brown hair around her finger. "My name is Cara, by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Cara. Shall we get going?"

A red blush flowed up her neck and across her cheeks. She whirled around and began to walk toward the large doors. "Yes, of course. Sally is in room 302, which is on the second floor."

Percy nodded and followed Cara. With one final look around the confining lobby, he rushed after the secretary and into the hallway leading to the check-up rooms.

There was an elevator all the way at the end of the hallway. Percy stared at the floor as the two of them briskly walked over. As Cara babbled mindlessly, Percy shoved his hands into his jeans pockets and thought about what he would face once he walked into the hospital room.