A/N: This is my first in a series of one-shots exploring the wonders of Percabeth. If you like what you've read, or don't, please drop a review and let me know. They are very appreciated.

Disclaimer: Disclaimed...I own nothing

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Quiet Interludes

Chapter 1: Matters of the Heart

The motorcycle had sped through the streets at breakneck speeds, dodging around cars and pedestrians, pushing its way onto the sidewalk to avoid the larger cluster of stalled traffic as driver and passenger quickly made their way towards the Plaza Hotel. Percy had known fear before, had stared into the eyes of death and the dead and held their gaze without so much as a shudder of fright. Yet when Silena Beauregard had called his cell phone, telling him Annabeth was sick with fever from the knife wound, he had known, for the first time in his life, that all-consuming, paralyzing panic that had driven a spike through the middle of his being.

No matter how fast he drove, no matter how he weaved his stolen motorcycle around obstacles, he could not simply get there fast enough, and the worry and fear and regret and all the emotions jumbling around within him made it difficult to breathe. It would have been strange had he thought about it, but being ADHD, his mind was easily distracted, his thoughts shifting from one variable to another, never at rest or calm. Yet in this moment of undiluted panic, his mind had never been so focused. There was one place in this world he needed to be, and his frustration was mounting as he just couldn't get there fast enough.

After the few moments of reckless driving that seemed to stretch the entirety of his lifetime, Percy had finally managed to arrive in front of the doors of the Plaza Hotel. He didn't even bother stopping the motorcycle, simply planting is right foot as he turned the bike into a lean, allowing the momentum to cause the vehicle to slide beneath him and skid across the concrete. He had even forgotten his passenger Will Solace, and if not for his training he would have been carried right along with the bike's trajectory, but Percy couldn't bring himself to care. The motorcycle hadn't even finished skidding to a halt before the son of Poseidon was breaking into a full run, bursting through the front entrance and demanding of any demigod lingering in the lobby where Annabeth was.

It didn't matter to the young hero if his actions were causing some alarm among his allies, it didn't matter if they were worried he was on the verge of cracking under the strain of the never-ending battles, all that mattered was getting to Annabeth. A few words from his friends, a few rushed conversations and Percy learned she was on the top floor.

Nothing was working right, not since Annabeth had been stabbed, and now even the elevator refused to move fast enough for the eagerly anticipating commander. His arms crossed over his chest as he tapped his foot impatiently before he moved his hands to set at his hips. He couldn't keep still, he couldn't take the waiting and it was slowly driving him to the brink of desperation. For his own part, Will Solace took a few calming breaths while trying desperately to ignore Percy's fidgeting.

At last the elevator doors opened along with the chiming bell indicating their floor when Percy rushed from the lift, followed closely by the healer. Another few moments of questions and directions and the pair found their way to the terrace where Silena sat, trying to comfort Annabeth while the cluster of Athena's children encircled them. Pushing his way through the crowd, Percy felt all his withering faith that it would all be okay die in his chest.

Annabeth was pale, her lips turning slightly blue and she shivered almost violently despite being covered in blankets. When Will had moved to her side and rolled up her sleeve, exposing the deep gash that had perforated her arm, Percy was sure he was going to pass out. He had seen injuries before, much, much worse than the one that stained Annabeth's arm with blood. But yet, seeing her so still and weak, so close to death had caused a stillness to run through his mind and body that seemed unreal, as if he were someone else watching the drama of his life unfold through a different pair of eyes.

He hadn't recalled kneeling, taking Annabeth's hand in his own to try to comfort her while Will cleaned and healed the wound. He hadn't realized when the other campers had begun filtering out of the room, leaving only his injured friend and himself. All he seemed to focus on was the face of the young woman who had nearly given her life to save his.

"You're cute when you worry," Annabeth said, her words coming hauntingly hollow as if the effort to speak drained her. "Your eyebrows get all scrunched together." Several moments passed between them, his eyes moving unconsciously to the bandage that wrapped her wound while her eyes never left his face. "Percy," she said softy, and perhaps it was the gentleness of her voice or hearing her say his name that brought his mind and attention back to her. "I'm alright Percy."

For a several moments, the young man said nothing; he simply chewed his bottom lip and tried desperately to rein in his emotions that were storming his resolve. He wanted to be strong. He wanted desperately to hold back the strangling fears that he had nearly lost her. He wanted to show her how overjoyed he was that she was going to be all right. But that crippling fear that had consumed so much of his life of late began to bubble over, moistening his eyes and causing his lower lip to tremble.

"Shh," Annabeth said, reaching her good arm up, cupping her hand behind Percy's neck and bringing him down into a one-armed hug. "It's all right Percy. I'm okay."

He couldn't speak, he couldn't even breathe through the gripping terror that continued to claw at the membrane of his heart, leaving jagged, unwanted scars that would haunt him long after this war would pass to the annals of history. All he could manage was to bury his face into the crook of her neck and squeeze her tightly to himself, pouring all the grief from his body that shook with the unspeakable horrors of almost losing her.

He was inconsolable, his words, his promises petering off into the hitching sobs that smothered his voice. Annabeth too tightened her hold on the young man, trying to reassure him she would be okay while reassuring herself that they would have time after this war to explore these new feelings she couldn't quite give a name to. She desperately hoped, if the fates were truly merciful, that they would get that chance.

Neither knew how long they remained like this, shouldering each other's fear and worries and making unspoken promises that were relayed through the tightening of their embrace. Finally, after several calming breaths, Percy untangled himself from Annabeth's arms, his eyes shining and cheeks moist with tears. It was amazing staring into his eyes, the tears causing them to shimmer a brighter green than Annabeth thought possible. But it was all the things unsaid between them, all the emotions swirling within those telling irises that caused a flutter to her swelling heart.

"You saved my life," he said simply, his head bowed as if embarrassed over the emotional eruption that had just occurred. It was a simple statement that seemed to carry with it the weight of all creation. And though she had taken the knife strike in place of him, the tone of his words left her questioning if there was not more to this story she was not privy to. Certainly, taken out of context of the incident on the bridge, those words could have a multitude of different meanings, and being the daughter of Athena, Annabeth wanted to know in what context he meant them.

"Do…you mean to say your Achilles spot?"

Taking a deep breath as he considered what he had meant, Percy shook his head simply. "I don't mean, just my Achilles spot…" His voice hitched slightly as he remembered his bath in the Styx, how she was the vision that brought focus to his thoughts and anchored him to this world. How that very image had pulled him from the water. How she had given meaning to his life since the moment they met five years ago, spoon feeding nectar into his mouth and bringing him back to the land of the living. She had saved him, in more than just every way.

"Had you not taken that knife, Ethan would have killed me. But," he paused a moment, fixing her with his piercingly brilliant emerald eyes before continuing. "I mean to say you saved me in so many other ways than that."

Chewing on her bottom lip, struggling to maintain the status quo of her hope and logic, Annabeth opted to file that small slither of possibilities away for a later time and asked rather, "Where is it? Your Achilles spot?"

He didn't even hesitate, didn't even recoil from the question as he took her hand and moved it to the small of his back. "It's right here, the spot that anchors me to life…" To you, he thought these final words, but Annabeth seemed to understand as her thin, warm fingers danced across the only vulnerable place on his body. Her eyes opened in surprise at the sensations she felt, and Percy could only hope to wonder what she experienced, what she saw. But the slight smile pulling at the corners of her mouth and the fascination that glittered from her eyes told him he already knew, and felt self-conscious at that thought. Her expression of discovery by touching his vulnerable spot almost made him forget the currents of liquid fire that passed through his body when her fingers were on him. Almost. It didn't help that her fingers were still there, splayed against the expanse of his back, but neither seemed to want to lose that contact.

After a few breaths, Annabeth's smile returned in full, dazzling beauty as she fixed her eyes on Percy. "You know Seaweed Brain, I think I owe you that kiss."

For a moment confusion painted his face as he arched an eyebrow at her. She smirked at his reaction, though couldn't quite blame him, there had been a lot going on since that moment. "On the bridge, you asked for a kiss for luck. I told you to come back alive, well, you did. So I owe you that kiss."

Smiling at the memory, a moment of peaceful levity during the middle of a war had caused his shoulders to relax just a bit. "I'll put it on your tab," he said jokingly, his eyes finally finding some measure of comfort against the dawning fears that had consumed him several minutes before.

Now it was Annabeth's turn to purse her lips and arch an eyebrow. "You've started a tab on how many kisses I owe you?"

"Yeah well…" Percy replied, shrugging his shoulder in response. "I've only just started it."

Seemingly pleased by the response, Annabeth smirked even more before saying; "I've got your tab at three."

The statement caused the two to laugh for the first time in days and it felt good to relieve that stress, if just for a bit. Percy stood up however, his eyes meeting Annabeth's for a moment before turning away, intent on leaving the room until her hand clutched his in a death grip, as though afraid to let go. "Percy, will you stay with me?" All through his earlier breakdown, she remained calm, remained an emotional foundation for him to cling to. But now her voice quivered with just the tiniest hint of apprehension, letting him know how scared she really was about her near death experience.

A small, sad smile danced across his lips as he gently pulled his hand from her fingers. Bending at the waist, he pushed the coffee table away from the center of the floor before moving the second sofa against the couch she currently rested on. He climbed over the arm of the transplanted sofa and nudged himself forward until he was close enough to pull her into an easy embrace.

The two of them lay in each others arms, comforted by the closeness of their friendship, and that extra something more that neither really needed to put into words. Knowing this, they began to let sleep carry them away, erasing all the fears of reality that awaited them beyond their little pocket of comfort.

For within each other's arms, they could find their peace.