When It Fades To Black: Percabeth AU

How Dare They

(All story rights go to ChasingFreedoms)

Annabeth POV

It's been over two weeks and I'm caught up on school work, but all the doctors are really worried because I haven't really been able to eat very much. They've been puréeing all my food to pack in nutrients, but I still needed solids to rebuild my body fats. The bruises are healing slowly, but the burns are still raw. The worst of the cuts are stitched up and I hurt slightly less. Only slightly.

The lack of solid food is driving me crazy, but no one but Thalia knows, because I'm done making my friends worry about me. I sigh as Sileana (the nurse, we're on first name basis) walks in with a salad covered in lean beef and beans. "Kale and Romaine. Some cabbage too. Hopefully you can keep this down."

I shrugged and took the food. I picked up the fork and take a small bite. Upon not immediately feeling sick, I tentatively swallow a few more bites. Then I feel full and wait about ten minutes and take a few more bites. Ten more minutes. Several more mouthfuls. I repeat this system until most the salad is gone.

I don't feel sick, and I guess until my stomach is back to normal, I'll just eat really slowly. Which will be super inconvenient later on, but as long as I could avoid eating with my friends, they'll never have to know.

Thalia walks in, obviously tired after her shift. She perks up immediately at me, "You actually ate?" She says, referencing the dish in front of me. I nod, "Yeah. I had to do it a couple bites at a time, but it worked. When we get home, I'll just have to eat dinner really slowly. Hopefully I'll get better more quickly."

Thalia grins, "Speaking of that, you get to come home tomorrow morning. 9 a.m. I got all your friends to grab your clothes and stuff from the old house so..." She pauses, as if considering if she what she's going to say, but she shrugs, "So you don't have to go back there."

I sag in relief. "Thanks. I really didn't want to... umm.. relive anything." Thalia nods and is about to say something but then Percy and Piper walk in.

Thalia turns and says, "Guess what guys? Annabeth is coming home tomorrow!"

Piper squeals a little, and Percy says, "That's great! Oh, and the nurse said you should probably walk around for a little bit. Just to make sure."

I raise my eyebrow and ask, "Make sure what? That I can walk? That I'm not crippled?" I laugh sarcastically. I stop when I see the look on Percy's face. "Wait, are you serious? Come on, seaweed brain, I have walked to the bathroom and around the halls for like five or six days."

He shakes his head, "Not without help from a cane or something."

I roll my eyes, "Yeah, and I told you I felt like a pathetic little old lady. What's your point?"

"That is my point. They're worried that after all the injuries and broken bones your legs have sustained too much damage to support themselves."

Piper throws in optimistically, "At least until you've had PT."

I nod, distressed, but out it off by saying, "If I have to have a cane, I at least want one of those cool ones with knives in them."

Despite themselves, Thalia, Percy, and Piper laugh. I use their distraction to untangle myself from the wires and machines and, wrapping myself in a robe, stand up and take a step. I gasp in pain, realizing how much harder it is to walk without something to help support me. Come on Annabeth. Keep walking. Come on. Prove you're not a victim. Not weak. Strong. A soldier. A warrior. A fighter. Come on.I keep walking.

 It hurts like Hades, but I do it anyway. One foot in front of the other, over and over. I step into the hall and casually call over my shoulder to my friends, carefully keeping the pain out of my voice, "You coming?"