Annabeth POV

"He's crippled."

I stopped dead in my tracks. A deafening silence filled with room. Sally looked heart broken.

"Come as soon as you can. He's calling someone's name." The doctor said, waiting for a response.

Suddenly, I heard my name faintly in the background.

"Annabeth!" I heard Percy yell.

"Hurry." The doctor ended the call, leaving me and Sally to collect our lost thoughts.

"Get in the car." Sally quickly got up and ran to grab her purse.

I couldn't even think. All I did was run to the front door. As I sprinted into the car, I kept thinking of how lucky Percy was to live. But it came with an extreme price. When Sally got in the car, she immediately started the car. She reversed out of the driveway, and sped away towards the hospital.

I clung onto the seat as Sally sped towards the hospital.

As soon as we reached the parking lot, I quickly climbed out. I didn't wait for Sally as I sprinted towards the hospital doors.

I ran to the front desk, and demanded to see Percy. Sally was right behind me, breathing heavily.

"Let me see Percy Jackson. Now! The doctor called and-"

A doctor in the corner of the waiting room waved his hand and called Sally's name.

I rushed towards him.

"Mrs. Jackson. Annabeth Chase." He acknowledged us as we walked down the halls. I wanted to speed walk, since the doctor was walking too slow.

When we reached the room, I heard my name being yelled. I pushed past the doors and ran towards Percy. He was struggling against the doctors pushing him down.

"Annabeth!" He yelled.

"I'm here! I'm here!" I ran next to him, holding onto his hand that was flailing in the air.

"Annabeth?" Percy relaxed.

"I'm here, Seaweed Brain. I'm here, I promise." I took Percy's hand and put it on my cheek. "I'm here." I whispered.

Percy smiled and looked into my eyes. He slid his thumb on my cheek and wiped away a tear that leaked from my eyes.

"Are you okay?" I asked as he admired my features.

"Yeah, now that you're here." Percy smiled.

"You guys are so cute together." Sally mentioned, wiping away tears.

Percy and I laughed. Sally came over and hugged her son. I smiled as Percy relaxed into her arms.

"You came back from the dead, Seaweed Brain." I laughed, wiping away my own tears.

"Thank gods." Percy chuckled.

When Percy tried to sit up, he frowned.

"I-I can't feel my legs."

My heart shrank with every beat.

"Percy, honey..." Sally out her hand on his cheek.

"What? What's wrong?" Percy looked into his mom's eyes, looking a bit scared.

"Percy, you're crippled." I choked out, looking at the floor.

"Wait....As in I'm disabled? I have to live my whole life in a wheel chair?!" Percy started freaking out, tugging on his hair.

"Percy, it' okay. We'll be there to support you the whole way." I held his hand.

Percy looked at me, his scared and shocked green eyes making my heart ache.

Suddenly, the doctor came in, smiling.

"Great to see you calmed down." The doctor chuckled.

"Yeah, about that...I'm sorry." Percy apologized sheepishly.

"It's fine. As long as you are okay." The doctor smiled. "Now, let's talk about what happened before you came to the hospital."

Percy's eyes got larger and he started breathing heavily.

"Hey, hey. Percy, I'm right here." I squeezed his hand and he squeezed back.

Percy explained what he went through after the fire. Tears brimmed my eyes as I learned what happened to Percy the whole time. Sally had to exit the room to calm herself. She didn't want to hear any more, she was sick to the top.

"And that's what got me here." Percy sighed.

"I am truly sorry Percy. And as I suspected, the bullet holes is what caused your disability." The doctor shook his head.

"Two weeks and then you'll be free. I'm glad you're alive, bud." The doctor smiled and nodded his head as he walked out of the room.

A deafening silence filled the room, and I was uncomfortable. Percy stared at his blanket covering, and played with his fingers.

"Gabe?" Percy asked, not losing contact with the blanket.

"Jail time." I smiled and watched as Percy smiled in relief.

"Gone from our lives forever, honey. Nobody will hurt you anymore." Sally hugged her son.

Gone. Forever.

+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

Percy POV

It was time. Time for freedom. Far far away from the hospital bed and terrible food. Two weeks have passed, and I was finally being released.

I smiled as the doctor brought in the wheelchair. He helped me climb in, then started rolling me out of the room.

Freedom. Finally.

As we entered the waiting room, Annabeth and mom came running towards me. They thanked the doctor and Annabeth helped roll me out.

"Fresh air! Thank the gods." I smiled as we exited the hospital and towards mom's car.

"Yep." Annabeth laughed as she helped me in the car.

She took the wheelchair and put it in the trunk. As mom drove us out, I couldn't stop staring at Annabeth.

What were we? I kissed her, didn't I?

Annabeth caught me staring, raising an eyebrow.

"Annabeth, what are we?" I asked, looking at my hand.

"Friends." She answered quickly.

My heart sank. We were just friends. Is it possible for a boy to get friend zoned?

"I'm kidding! You should've seen how heartbroken you just looked." Annabeth laughed, tucking in a strand of blonde hair.

"AnnabethChase,wouldyoutakethehonorofbeingmygirlfriend?" I quickly asked.

"Woah, slow down there Seaweed Brain. Ask again?" She asked.

"Wise Girl, would you like to be my girlfriend?" I said nervously.

"No."

"No?"

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yep." Annabeth laughed.

"Thank gods." I laughed nervously.

Annabeth smiled and pecked my cheek. I tinted red and I heard squeals from the front.

"Mom!" I groaned.

"I'm sorry! You guys are just so cute together!!" My mom squealed, smiling in the rear mirror.

Annabeth smiled.

It was time for a fresh start.

-oOo

SO SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT. I have personal things I have to go through, I am truly sorry. Anyway, I'm making a new book make sure you check it out. One more thing, ONLY ONE CHAPTER LEFT!

This chapter was really crappy, sorry guys.