When It Fades To Black: Percabeth AU

Cry

(All story line rights go to ChasingFreedoms)

Annabeth POV

Percy raises his head in disbelief and whispers, "Annabeth? Are you really awake? Am I dreaming?" I laugh a bit, but it sounds hoarse considering I haven't talked in a while.

I looked at Percy and whispered, "You're awake. I'm awake. I'm OK."

Percy smiles sadly and says, "You're not okay, Annabeth. Why did you I'd hate you? We'd hate you?"

I lie. I'm just so used to hiding, I can't begin to tell him. "I don't remember."

Percy shakes his head, "Don't you dare lie to me. I need the truth Annabeth." Then softer, "I deserve the truth."

I can't help it, I scoff. "Deserve? My life, my story Percy. You only deserve what I say you do." It hurts him, I can tell, but he'd hate me if I gave him the truth. I think he loves me, and I think that if he realizes how truly broken and screwed up I am, he won't anymore. It hurts to lie, but the thought of the truth is agony. 

Percy buffs and leaves. I don't think he's coming back. I guess I lose him either way, but this hurt a lot less.

"Well my friend, you screwed that one up royally." I turn to face Thalia. She's sadly shaking her head at me. She continues talking, despite my death glare. "Look, Annabeth, you're in love with him, he's in love with you, and you're both idiots. It's really kind of annoying, actually." 

My whole body shakes in rage. "Get out." I whisper, but I may as well have yelled it, because when Thalia looks at me, she's shell shocked. She gets up and heads to the door anyway.

When she gets to the threshold, she pauses and says, "I'm glad you're awake." I want to call her back, tell her everything, but she is gone before I can. I'm alone once again.

Always alone.

Worthless.

Unable to love.

Unable to be loved. 

It makes me wonder why I fought my way out of that coma. Suddenly, I hear my father's voice in my head. See, Annabeth, don't blame me for not loving you, no one loves you. You aren't worth anyone's time.

I scream, all the pain and rage building up after years. I scream long and loud and angry and desperate and... 

I look over, and there's Percy. I take one look at him and start crying. I can't hold back all the pain I've kept behind a wall anymore. I feel the dam inside me break and I sob harder. 

Suddenly, Percy is holding my hand, and he whispers, "It's okay, Annabeth. I'm here."

With that, he climbs into the hospital bed next to me and just holds me.

Thalia POV

As I walk out of Annabeth's room and into the hospital corridor, my phone buzzes. It's Luke. I've been keeping him updated on Annabeth recently, so instead of letting him talk when I say hello, I just give him the news. "Hey, Annabeth's awake." Before I can say anymore, Luke cuts me off, his voice frantic, "Listen Thal, that's great, but Frederick Chase has been released from his holding cell. Personal recognizance. They say he has sufficient community ties for it. Without Annabeth's personal testimony, they say they don't have enough proof. Annabeth isn't safe as of five minutes ago, when he walked out of here. He was whistling, Thal, bastard was whistling. Protect Annabeth. I'll be there in ten." 

Annabeth's father was free? 

Shit.

Percy POV

I hear Annabeth scream, and I sprint to her room. She just lays in her bed, sobbing. My heart shatters at the sight.

I run over and hold her hand whispering, "It's okay, Annabeth. I'm here." I climb into the bed next to her and just hold her as she sobs into my shoulder, her hands twisting the cloth of my jacket. I whisper, "I love you."

She looks at me for a moment and says, "I haven't loved anybody in a long time. And so many men hurt me, I wasn't sure if I could ever find one to love me, or that I could love. But I think I might love you." She says it so quietly, I can hardly hear her, but there's no mistaking what she said. I stroke her hair until Thalia suddenly bursts into the room.

She says the most horrible words I've ever heard in my life. "He's free, Annabeth. They let your dad go."

Annabeth starts to cry again, and I hold her even more tightly. I let her cry, she's earned that right after so many years. 

I hold my wise girl tightly, and I vow in my mind to protect her.