CHAPTER 3:

I sat on my bed, watching my brothers and sisters as they argued over which was better: the NCIS or the CIA. Somehow, Malcolm was related to an agent of NCIS. Her named was Abbey and, according to Malcolm, was one of the smartest goths you were ever going to meet. He had a photo of her on his bedside. Abbey had mid-length black hair, bright grey eyes and, from what I could assume, always wore some form of black cobwebbed or skull patterned outfit.

"You can't say NCIS, Mal," one of my little sisters, Clara, said, "You're related to an agent!"

Malcolm looked at Clara carefully. "First of all, Abbey isn't an agent – she hates guns and violence! How can she be an agent of a federal agency if she doesn't like violence? That's just contradictory. Second of all, NCIS is better because the CIA is primarily based in America with mostly American agents, while NCIS does co-ops with different groups which include the CIA, FBI and homeland intelligence. CIA primarily sticks to itself."

Majority of my brothers had gone with the CIA for the better, but I was still unsure of who I thought was the more superior agency.

"The CIA doesn't stick to itself! NCIS does!" Jason, the only 14 year old in the cabin at the time, was quick to respond to Malcolm's comment. After all, Jason's dad was in the CIA.

Sara, the cutest of us all, replied to our brother, grabbing onto Malcolm's hand. "If that were true, Mal and I wouldn't be related on both sides." Malcolm lifted the bubbly little 6 year old into the air as she giggled softly.

"Too true." Responded Malcolm, "Now, I say NCIS is better. You say NCIS is better. Let's have our beloved sister, Annabeth, choose."

The entire cabin spun around to look at me scrutinising, as though trying to decide which side I would choose. "I'm sorry, what?" I asked when I finally snapped to attention.

"Which do you think is better, Annabeth? NCIS or CIA?" Before I had an answer, a knock sounded at the door – a knock to which I happily answered. I had responded to a short letter from Percy three days ago, and three days was the average time period of which he replied with his short answer, but they were answers none-the-less, I suppose.

I'll admit, I missed the idiot more than my siblings and mother would like. Neither supported my relationship with Percy; they certainly didn't support it when my mother and Zeus believed that Percy had something to do with the deaths. I never believed that personally, but I had asked if he anything to do with it just to be safe.

"Let me get the door first," I said, "Never know." I pushed myself off my bed and walked over to the grey door. After opening the door, Hermes was standing there in all his jumpsuited glory. "Hello there, Miss Chase," he said cheekily, causing me to roll my eyes and smile.

"Hey Hermes, have you got anything for me or the others?" I asked, for one of the first times, generally interested in the response.

He pulled out a thin white envelope, "But of course. This is a special letter for you, Annabeth. Please be careful with what information is inside it." I nodded, excepting the envelope as though it were to explode in my hands. Shutting my eyes, I heard him whisper one thing, "Good Luck, Annabeth, you'll need it."

I walked into my cabin with the letter in hand. My brothers and sisters asked what was going on, but I simply walked over to my bunk and collected my jacket, a sheet of paper and pen and an envelope. I scurried out of the cabin towards the pavilion that Chiron had built after the Second Giant War. It was parallel to the beach and had a small stone path leading to the pier on the sand. I sat down on the bench and gently ripped the top of the envelope open, revealing a small sheet of paper covered in Seaweed Brain's messy handwriting.

Dear Annie,

He began with something that he knew I could kill him for, I could just picture him laughing manically.

My life has been pretty hectic recently. Rule one: WHATEVER I TELL YOU IN THIS LETTER IS CONFIDENTIAL, YOU MUST NEVER TELL ANYONE WHAT YOU READ IN THIS. UNDERSTOOD?

I eagerly continued reading, awaiting the thing I was supposed to keep quiet.

Okay, now that that's out of the way, let me tell you what has happened in the past three years. When I first left camp, I decided to use my "abilities" to help people rather than what my 'family' believes. I joined the Marines about two months after I left – despite the memories that leave me shaking at night, I loved every minute of it (not the innocent lives lost though, that part I will hate for eternity). After roughly six months, I was deployed here in Washington DC as an agent of NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) and am standing at roughly… sixth best here in Washington. Apparently, I'm below only the Director of NCIS and the other agents in my team (I've been here the least amount of time).

If you really wish to see me, come to the base here in Washington – ALONE – and we'll talk. Otherwise we can't. Sorry, Wise Girl, I would come to you if I could – but c'est la vie.

Love,

The "infamous",

Seaweed Brain

I wiped away a tear in my eye as I re-read the letter. He'd joined the Marines and was now part of an elite team in NCIS. Only Percy could do that. He'd started out as a banished 18 year old, became a Marine two months later, and then six months after that became an agent of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. If Percy could do that, why couldn't my mother accept him? I looked at the waves slowly, thinking about Seaweed Brain. Just like the waves, he was always untameable; so how did he manage to get into the Marines? He was strong and deadly, like the waves, dangerous but loyal. He fought anyone who threatened his home. Percy truly was the son of Poseidon, there was no second guessing that, at least.

I watched the waves coming in onto the sandy beach. The sea foam lapped onto the wet sand, leaving veins of white as it traveled back into the crystal water. I definitely preferred NCIS, I decided.