When It Fades To Black: Percabeth AU

Questions

(All story rights go to ChasingFreedoms)

Piper POV

When get there, we are informed by Thalia that Percy (who was shot, apparently) and Annabeth had already been rushed to the hospital. I sit there in shock, and Jason holds me.

Luke takes us to the station for questioning, and Jason calms me when I say, "Screw off. I need to be with my best friend." 

After about an hour of convincing, we finally head to the station.

It takes us about two hours to get there because of traffic. When we arrive, Percy is sitting in a corner with crutches next to him, and his mom and step dad fussing over him. His mom says, "You know, we really shouldn't have let you leave the hospital directly after surgery..."

Percy interrupts and says, "Yeah, you should've. The sooner I'm done here, the sooner I get to see Annabeth. End of story."

 Time Lapse

Annabeth POV

The medics must have shown up eventually, because when I wake up, I am surrounded by the smell of bleach. I don't need to open my eyes to know I'm in a hospital. I hear the low murmur of voices and recognize Thalia's and nurse Beauregard's.

Thalia sounds upset, "What do you mean? How the Hades is she even alive then?"

The nurse sighs in frustration and says, "You can go weeks without food as long as you have sufficient water. And I'm telling you, she was severely underweight before, which means her stomach has shrunk, which means that when she wakes up, no you can't give her a bunch of food. Not that I won't let you, but that she will physically unable to eat very much. Especially things with lots of flavor."

I'm thoroughly confused now, and I open my eyes. Thalia looks like she's about to reply but happens to flick her eyes over the nurse's shoulder and her whole face changes. She looks happy, then relieved, then sorrowful, then... angry? Why is she mad? She shoves past the nurse and shoves her face uncomfortably close, "Annabeth Chase. Don't you ever run off like that again. Or I'll kill you."

I look up at her, every small movement I make paining me, and rasp, "Percy's mom. I had. Had to save. Save her." Many of my words are punctuated by coughs and then wincing as my lungs pounded against my bruised and broken ribs. 

As she sees my pain, all the anger disappears from her face replaced with only a pained look. Not concern or pity, but a sad kind of amazement as she quietly says, "Oh, Annabeth, it's not your job to save people. Its mine."

I whisper, "You wouldn't have gotten to her in time. It would have been selfish."

The amazed look on her face becomes even deeper as she says, "You, of all people, Annabeth, have earned the right to be selfish."

No, I hadn't. And then I realize, I'd been so wrapped up in my pain, "Percy!" I yelled in panic, and shoved myself out of my bed. Well, I tried to. It was really more of me realizing every inch of my skins was covered in bruises, burns, and cuts. Also my wrist is broken.

As I drop back to the bed, crying out in pain, Thalia says, "Don't worry, kiddo. He's okay. They're all okay. Percy and Piper and everybody are down at the station getting asked questions about everything. It's best to talk while it's still pretty fresh in their heads. They'll be back soon." I smile and Thalia sighs. "Which means I have to question you. I brought you food from Jana's down on main. I know it's your favorite." It was; Jana was Greek and her husband was American, which resulted in the greatest fries and baklava I've ever tasted, and I am aware that these are strange combinations.