Better late than never right?

Chapter Six

"I know this was our last resort plan, but I can't believe we're doing this," Thalia sighed holding her thumb out toward the road as a car drove by them.

"We don't have much choice," Luke shrugged. He turned to see Percy and Annabeth were standing beside him pretending to use sticks they had found as swords. "Stop it," Luke told them. "For this to work you need to look sad. So why don't you tie the blanket to a large stick and make a hobo sack?"

Thalia slapped Luke lightly on the shoulder. "Leave them alone."

"What's a hobo sack?" Percy questioned.

"It's a thing hobo's carry with all their stuff," Annabeth answered. "It's like a pole or a stick with a bag thing on the end."

"But how can you fit everything?"

"They don't have a lot of stuff," Annabeth said matter of factly.

Thalia rolled her eyes at the three of them and she looked back to the road hoping for someone to come by, someone willing to pick them up and who wasn't a monster, insane, or would drop them at a police station. Aka no one who really existed.

"I see a car!" Percy shouted suddenly drawing her attention. She turned to look the other way as he began waving frantically before she could stop him as she saw the blue lights flash on the top of the car.

She bit back a curse, Luke did not, as the cop car pulled over in front of them. They were all silent as the cop- Officer Leonard according to his badge- climbed out of the car and looked at them all surprised. "Why are you all out here?"

"Our parents left us all the way out here that's why!" Luke shouted suddenly. His voice was bitter as he crossed his arms. "They tell me to watch the younger ones while they run to the car and they've been gone since!"

The cop didn't looked convinced and that's when Thalia noticed Annabeth was crying. When had she started doing that? "I miss mommy," she complained.

Thalia got into character and bent down to hug Annabeth as she glared up at Luke, "Shouting isn't helping."

"It's been six fucking hours that's not my fault."

"Can you find our mommy and daddy?" Percy asked the cop with wide eyes.

The cop nodded quickly and moved back to his car and began to call something in on the radio. After a few minutes of that he ushered them in the back seat of his car, well Luke sat in the front so he could have a seatbelt and they were off.

"I'm gonna bring you all to my precinct," he explained. "Things will be sorted out from there, what are all of your names?"

"I'm Travis," Luke answered without missing a beat. "My little brother is Connor. My sisters are-"

"I'm Phoebe!" Annabeth chimed in. "This is Zoë!"

Thalia resisted the urge to glare at "her sister" for the name.

"Nice to meet you all," the cop nodded. "I'm Officer Mike Leonard."

The ride long was and nerve racking. Though Thalia wasn't sure if that was because they were stuck with a cop, or for another reason. Either way they were now at the mercy of this woman and her precinct, and at this point Thalia didn't know how to proceed.

They rode in silence for a while as soon enough signs of civilization came to be, which both made Thalia feel slightly relieved yet on edge. As they drove she soon became aware of Percy who was shifting awkwardly in his seat. She frowned, "What is it Connor?"

Percy gave her an embarrassed smile and looked down, "I need to use the bathroom."

In front of them the cop gave a sigh, "Can you hold it kid? It's like a ten maybe fifteen minute ride from here."

Percy shook his head quickly, "Not really."

"Alright." With that said he moved into a turning lane and a minute or so later they were parked outside a gas station.

"I'll take him," Luke offered climbing out the car and giving a stretch, Thalia followed suit. "Phoebe do you need to go too?"

"I'll try," the girl decided walking off with Luke, but as they did Thalia didn't miss the pointed look Luke gave her as they walked away.

"You kids don't have phones or anything?" The cop asked her after a moment.

Thalia tried not to show her surprise as she shook her head, "Mine ran out of battery, and Travis broke his last week. He's got a bit of a temper on him."

He nodded and leaned on the hood of the car, and Thalia began looking for an excuse to walk away, "What's all of your last names by the way? I didn't catch 'em."

"Jackson," Thalia answered calmly. Part of her felt stupid for using Percy's real last name, but the other part of her was glad she didn't try to come up with something too common which could be suspicious.

"Another question, do you all-"

"Tara!" A new voice cut in. Thalia turned to see a man smiling as he walked up to the cop. He smiled and greeted him, pulling him into a hug and Thalia didn't miss the slight blush on the officer's face. "How have you been Mike? Haven't seen you in a while?"

"I'm fine," he smiled. "But I'm actually working right now..." he said his eyes moving to Thalia.

"I'll go check on my siblings," Thalia told him moving away from the car and back toward where he had seen the other three go.

She had to round the corner before she found the three of them waiting there, "Lets get it If here fast. Any ideas on how to do that?"

Luke shrugged a smile playing on his face, "Well I may not have my license, but I do have a couple ideas..."

Thalia shook her head, "No way in Hades."

~~~~

"We are dumping this car the moment we see public transportation," Thalia declared.

Luke flashed her a smile from the driver's seat, "Sure thing boss. Now buckle up children, If we  avoiding cops it's gonna be a bumpy ride."