I suck at committing to things. I truly and obviously do. It's one of my huge flaws. I'm not going to ramble on with some lame excuse about why I didn't do it earlier, because I just didn't. I honestly HATE disappointing you guys, but I can't help it. It kills me when I know I'm letting you down. So why don't I just do it? I don't know. That's it.

Sorry for everything. I don't expect you to forgive me.

On a happier note, have fun reading this! It's mostly fluff, but the next chapters will be juicier drama wise. 

Chapter 3

Percy's POV

Chiron booked me in the sickroom that night, while I tried so hard not to complain about it. He handed me a flawlessly folded set of white pajamas.

"Here, put these on." He said, like he was doing me a big favor by giving them to me. Reluctantly I did, but I felt like a hospital patient. Which I wasn't. Once he got me into a bed, he made me sit upright and did this weird check-up for me.

"Sit up straighter, Percy." He told me. I did. Chiron placed a cold hand in the middle of my back. Gods, they were so cold.

"Deep breath," I sucked in as much air as I could, which was a mistake because it made me cough. I could tell he was thinking hard. He picked up my wrist and felt for a pulse. Why did his hands have to be so icy? He was frowning by the time he released his grasp.

The whole thing ended up feeling like a visit to the doctor, except Chiron didn't use any tools or ask stupidly obvious questions. He felt my throat, checked my eyes, recorded my temperature, the works. It started to make me feel uncomfortable with all the examining and stuff, but hey, he was the healer.

"So are you sure nectar and ambrosia never helped?" He asked when it was over.

"Yup."

"Have you tried double dosage?"

"Yup."

He paused. "Why don't you try some now," I could sense the doubt in his voice. "Just in case."

I sighed. "It's not going to work," I muttered under my breath. Ignoring me, he turned around to reach a tall glass of nectar with ice and a bendy straw. I took it, careful not to lose my grip, and drank some while purposefully not using the straw. As always it tasted wonderful, like melted chocolate chip cookies. But the relief never came. Feeling as useless as I did before, I handed him back the glass. Chiron looked defeated.

"Well, I shall puzzle this for quite some time." He said quietly. I shrugged. "Until then, I will do my best to cure… whatever it is you have. And I am truly sorry you cannot see your friends, Percy, but it's for the best." I swallowed hard and would not meet his eyes. Then I remembered when Annabeth winked at me, and I knew I would be seeing her and Grover anyway. Chiron didn't know that, so I pretended to look frustrated.

Seeing that I was upset, he glanced at the clock across the room. "I should be getting something to eat sooner or later, even if I missed dinner. Can I send you something?"

I shook my head, totally not in the mood for eating anything, which was really unlike me.

"In that case, I will go now. If you need anything at all, send me an Iris message." And with that a small toaster-sized fountain, similar to the one in my cabin, magically appeared on my bedside table with a tiny pouch of drachmas.

"Thanks," I said.

He patted my leg. "Goodnight, Percy."

I was alone in the room when I stared at the window, wondering if Annabeth would come. But knowing her, she would come early in the morning so we catch up on sleep. I felt bored, useless, and completely wiped out. Not wanting to but knowing I needed it, I drifted into a (thank the Gods) dreamless sleep.

Annabeth's POV

Bleeep. Bleeep. Bleeep. Blee- *click*

Ugh. Mornings. I opened one eye to look at the time. 6:00. One hour until camp wakes up, I thought. 58 minutes to visit Percy. I got up sluggishly and still half-asleep but managed to put on a camp shirt and denim shorts. I walked outside and the brisk, morning air woke me up a little.

I was able to sneak around the cabins as quietly as I could, careful not to wake up the other campers. When I reached the Big House, I circled around it, looking for the right window to creep into. Finally I found the right one, which leads to the sickroom. I first peered inside and found him sleeping. I couldn't see his face; he was turned to the wall. It was much easier to climb through this window than the fire escape in his apartment.

I silently closed the window behind me and gathered my surroundings. The room was warm and bright with the morning summer sun shining directly in. It gave the room a cozy feeling. There were four beds lined on each side of the room, and Percy took one in the middle but closer to the window. On his bedside table was a small version of an Iris message mist fountain, his pen Riptide, and a half-empty glass of nectar.

I walked around the bed to look at him. His cheeks were flushed and his hair askew, and he must have been hot last night from the fever that his sheets were down to his waist. His breathing was rough and achy, yet very quiet. He looked somewhat peaceful, which made me doubt waking him up was a good idea.

I lightly touched his cheek with my fingertips and they tingled from his body heat. I decided I should wake him up, but just to talk. He could rest for the whole day anyway.

I moved my hand to his arm. "Percy," I whispered. "Wake up." He grumbled and rolled to his other side so I walked around the bed. "Percy," I whispered again, a bit louder. He squinted in the sunlight at first, then focused his eyes on me. Immediately he squeezed them shut again, put an arm over his face and grunted.

"You okay?"

Three seconds… Six seconds...

"Yeah," He said softly. He slowly sat up against the wall "What... what time is it?"

"Six." I whispered. He groaned again, but this time in exasperation. "Well good morning to you too Mr. Sunshine!"

He smiled and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. I sat on the edge of his bed. "How are you doing?" I asked.

He sighed. "I'd give anything to just go back to camp." He looked down at his hands sadly and I knew how he felt. He hated being kept away from everything. All cooped up inside while around you people were enjoying camp. I feel the same way when I'm injured or something and Chiron makes me wait. It's the worst.

"You will be out soon, Percy. Just… give it some time-"

"If I wait any longer it might be too late." He snapped. It startled me to hear him say that. When he saw that I was hurt, his face softened. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. It's nothing, ok? Just please don't worry about me."

"Nothing?" I said, my voice rising, but not too much so Chiron wouldn't hear. "Your fever is like, a hundred thirty, and your throat is raw from coughing." He raised his hand and rubbed his neck because he knew I was right. "It's definitely something." I said.

At that moment I could hear Chiron's wheelchair rolling down the hall. In less than two seconds I had on my invisibility cap and Percy was on his back snoring softly.

The door opened halfway. "Percy?" Chiron said.

Percy didn't open his eyes. "Hmm?"

"I need to prepare for breakfast soon, so if you are looking for me I'm off to my daily activities. I wanted to let you know that I will have some breakfast sent to you in an hour. I will be back to check on you at eleven. Understood?"

"Yeah, sure." He mumbled.

"Until then, rest." And he left the room, convinced. When we could no longer hear his wheelchair, I became visible and Percy sat back up.

"That was fun," He said. We looked at each other and cracked up, unable to stop laughing. Really soon Percy was coughing and laughing at the same time, and soon we both stopped laughing all together.

He was only coughing but it sounded more like he was painfully choking. I looked around for something to help him and saw the nectar on his side table. I grabbed the glass and brought it to his lips. He drank eagerly until he realized it was empty.

"Oh, Seaweed Brain," I said gently. I didn't notice I was clutching his wrist the whole time. His skin felt hot and feverish.

"What is going on?" He asked me, like he was desperate for an answer.

"I wish I knew, Percy. But I swear to you I will find out."

Ok, guys. Next few chapters will be much more exciting, I promise! Pleeeeaaase review. I just love reviews. Don't you? I know I do! :D