Till Death Do Us Part

She Is Alive

Author's Note:

Hello! Because of the requests of WiseGirl44 and DaughterofHecate, I present to you this chapter! It hurts me to think that this is the second to the last chapter of this story. I want you to know, my friend, that ALL of you are SO amazing! I hope you'll like this chapter! :)

Disclaimer: Don’t own anything

Chapter 17 – She is Alive!

Her thoughts were wrong. She told herself she was healed but she was not. After seeing Percy, she needed Silena. She needed to talk to someone. The past kept on haunting her like a nightmare. The wounds were as fresh as ever. She did meet Percy Jackson. But he didn't recognize her. She wanted to scream at him, tell him she's Annabeth Chase but he's different now. He does not even see beyond that beautiful face. So what if she's Annabeth. Past is past. He just let it pass and that's what hurt most. No effort at all. She could not drop at his feet and tell him "Hello! I'm Annabeth Chase". Who knows he's not even interested. He came to her as Sophia Johnson in a professional way to borrow his exact words. They all see her as Sophia Johnson, an artist, except for Paul Blofis but that was different. So, in the morning, before dropping Fred at the vet, she decided to see Silena. But upon stepping up in front of her apartment, she gasped. Right in front of her door was a truck with a billboard on the side, and a blow up photograph of her painting "San Francisco at Dusk". And on the driver's seat was Percy, so fresh, grinning happily at her. She could not help but smile too. She stopped and sat down on the last step of the stair. Percy came down the truck and sat beside her.

"How do you like it?"

"I think you're a scream."

"Yeah, but doesn't it look good? Just think how your other stuff would look and mounted in the medical centre buildings. Wouldn't that be a thrill?" He was a thrill, but she couldn't tell him that.

"Come on, let's go have breakfast and talk." This morning he wasn't taking no for an answer. He had cleared his morning schedule just for her. And she found his determination touching as well as amusing. She just wasn't in the mood for another fight.

"I should say no, but I won't."

"That's better. Can I give you a ride?"

"In that?" She pointed to the truck and started to laugh.

"Sure. Why not?"

So they hopped into the cab of the truck and headed down to Fisherman's Wharf for breakfast. Trucks were a familiar sight there, and no one was going to walk off with a photograph that size.

Surprisingly, it was a very pleasant breakfast. They both put aside the war, at least until the coffee.

"Well, have I convinced you?" He looked very sure of himself as he smiled over his cup.

"No. But I've had a very nice time."

"I suppose I should be grateful for small favours, but that's not my style."

"And what is your style Mr. Jackson? In your own words."

"You mean you're giving me a chance to explain myself?" He was teasing, but there was an edge to his voice. "All right, I'll tell you. I have to admit you're such a great talent. That's why we need your work. Our medical center will be opening in a month's time and we need to finish all these once and for all."

"And…"

"And I think we need you to sign up."

"This breakfast is for my signing up?"