Previously:
The 'room' they prepared for Percy was far too similar to a certain room in Tartarus to be a coincidence. He had to close his eyes in dread as they locked his hands in the chuckles hanging from the ceiling. When he opened them again, it was to Annabeth's grey eyes looking at him expressionlessly. She ignored his pleading look at left without a word, the door shutting with a foreboding thud.

He closed his eyes again. This was going to be terrible, he just knew it. Especially if Kampe was the next one to visit him like he suspected.

"We're going to come at them from land now as well and you're leading that group." Annabeth told her lieutenant, Polybotes, bane of Poseidon. Pontus had received the help of the giants that could revive with the help of the monsters and sacrificed demigods captured. "Pull back when the sun hits at about ten in the morning. We'll attack again tomorrow morning."

Polybotes grunted, displeased. "I still can't believe that she-monster is getting the first go at the son of Poseidon." He grumbled.

Annabeth sighed. "You'll get your chance soon enough, now focus."

The giant grumbled but didn't speak anymore. He'd been complaining about this since they'd headed out and his voice was beginning to grate on her nerves. She hoped he got called back soon for his sake because she wasn't sure she could restrain herself from killing him on the spot for much longer.

"I'll continue from the beach." She continued. "Wait until you hear them blow the conch horn, they'll be focused on the beach, not even expecting us from their rear."

"Why not attack at once?" Polybotes asked, grinning wickedly. "Rush them all at once."

"We can deal the most damage this way." Annabeth explained as patiently as she could through gritted teeth. "If I attack first, some of their boarder guard will get pulled to the beach and you'll be able to breach the border that Thalia's tree generates. You won't be able to do that if you rush them. We can try that next time since they'll be repairing the border."

The giant grumbled some more but didn't argue.

"You have until midnight to get into position." Annabeth said, ending the discussion.

In the hours waiting for the early hours of the morning until they attacked, Annabeth retreated to her tent to think. There was a lot riding on the fact that they'd caught Percy Jackson. She just hoped it will be worth it. Annabeth wasn't sure the camp relied on Percy as much as everybody thinks. But only time will tell.

-            -            -

"If you can't win against any older camper right now, you're going to have a much harder time against any monsters out there." Annabeth lectured to the group of nine to ten year olds gathered in the arena. "We'll start smaller and build your way up."

Ten minutes later, you could see the same group attacking members of the Seven. Some were holding their own, others were loosing miserably. Annabeth stood to the side, watching with a critical eye.

As they wrapped up the lesson, one of the ten year olds asked the question that would end training for the rest of the day.

"Annabeth, why are we fighting other campers instead of the monsters in the forest? Don't you think it would be better if we all worked together as a team?"

Annabeth frowned as the other older campers with her avoided her gaze. The camper had brought up a good point in their opinion.

"Are you telling me there is no way that you will be alone outside camp? That you will never be without help?" Annabeth started coldly. "That you'll always have your friends or an older demigod with you?"

An awkward silence rose amongst the group. Most hadn't thought of that.

"You all come from different parts of the country, but are you all going to go to the same school so the monsters don't catch you by yourself with a building full of mortals?" Annabeth continued in a harsh tone. "You think the gods are going to see and send someone to help? I hate to break it to you but they aren't that helpful."

"Annabeth!" Piper cut in, looking between her and the ten year old who asked the question. He was now tearing up. "I think he gets it."

Annabeth never took her eyes off the boy as she said, "I don't think he does." Then she left, leaving the others to calm down the now panicking group of ten year olds.

Annabeth faintly heard Percy call after her and Piper and Hazel talking to him. She shook her head and refrained from rolling her eyes as she heard two sets of footsteps running after her. "I don't want to talk about it."

There have been several attempts lately to get her to open up. Percy had started, but has since taken the hint that she won't be talking about it anytime soon. The others took that as a sign that it was their turn. First Grover and Chiron, then Juniper. Now it seems, Piper and Hazel are going to try.

"And why not?" Hazel demanded. "It's not healthy keeping things bottled up and to shut out your friends. We all need each other but we can't help if you don't tell us somehow what is going on."

"I've heard all this before." Annabeth said, exasperated as she continued walking away. The other two trailed after her almost desperately. "And no one needs me."

"Bull crap!" Piper exclaimed. "It's because of you Leo's portals are working! And what about Percy?"

"Dedleasus' computer is what made them work." Annabeth countered. "Leo has it now so he doesn't need me."

"And Percy?" Hazel asked, almost quietly.

"What about him? He needs me even less."

"I know you don't mean that." Hazel protested.

Annabeth snorted, it was the truest thing she's said in her entire life.

"Annabeth, why don't we go sit somewhere and we can talk about this some more?" Piper suggested. Charmspeak lacing her words with such power that it would have made Annabeth falter in her steps in she weren't so set on not doing that.

"See you guys later." She said, leaving them behind.

"Annabeth Chase!" Piper shouted at the top of her lungs, charmspeak forgotten. "Tell me what's going on right now so so help me, I'll—"

"What?" Annabeth asked angrily, spinning around on her heal. Hazel and Piper could now see the rage in her eyes that melted through to the rest of her body. "You'll what? You have no control over me, Piper McLean. You could never understand my burden right now and there is no help you'll be able to give so drop it."

Seeing that her words shut them up, she turned around for the last time and left. She never once looked back as she disappeared into the forest.

-            -            -

"I'm sorry, Percy, I think we made her even more mad."

Annabeth shifted in her seat, crouched behind a pillar. She had her Yankees hat on and she was listening as Hazel and Piper reported their attempt to Percy. She wasn't sure what compelled her to do this but she was there anyways.

Hazel was the one to have just spoken, sounding on the verge of tears. Piper was the one who was angry now.

"I just don't get it, we're her family." Piper said, frustrated. "Is something happening with her dad?"

"No," Percy said sadly. "He's got no idea what's going on either."

"We'll keep trying." Piper decided, determination taking over her anger.

"But Piper, you heard her!" Hazel protested.

"Yeah, Pipes, we can only wait for her to come to us when she's ready." Percy agreed. "Let's just try in other ways for now."

"Like what?" Piper demanded.

"By staying available for her to talk to us. By continuously giving her our support." Hazel said, seeing where Percy was going. "Don't let whatever she says get to you. For whatever reason, she's hurting right now."

Piper had tears coming down her face now. "I just don't understand." She said softly. "That just feels like giving up. Maybe you can do that, but I can't."

"Piper!" Hazel exclaimed, horrified. She glanced worriedly from her to Percy.

"It's alright, Hazel, I—" Percy's voice cracked. "—I deserved that."

"No, Percy, I'm sorry..."

Annabeth refused to listen to anymore so she left.