A.N: This, today, was this first time I was excited to write this story in over a month. I've had no drive. I felt like I was letting myself (and everyone who wrote encouraging comments) down. It had gotten to the point where I was seriously considering changing this story to completed. But reading over the little I had written, and my plans for the next chapter and I couldn't kill my darlings. I might not own these characters but I have earned the right to call these thoughts, dialogue, and plot my own.

When I came to I wasn't nearly as warm as I felt before. Instead of feeling like I was in the heart of a volcano, it was more like I was being gently simmered. It was dark, obviously late. I looked to my left, over in the corner Will was sitting on the floor surrounded by books and sheets of paper. He stopped to rub his eyes, "What are you doing?" I asked. My voice was quiet and scratchy. Will looked up,

"Just catching up on some research. How are you feeling?"

"Better."

"Any pain? Discomfort?" He asked.

"No," I said truthfully. He nodded,

"Good."

"Where's Annabeth?"

"I sent her to her cabin a few hours ago. I don't know how things work in the Big House, but there are no sleepovers in these beds." Will yawned, "well… I'm useless without a few hours of sleep." He got up and piled his books in his arms. "Need anything before I go?" I shook my head. "Alright see you in the morning," Will walked out. Once I was alone in the dim room I realized how quiet the room was. There was hardly a sound except for the occasional breeze outside. I missed my cabin; the sounds from the fountain, the sea colored walls and sent of the ocean. This room was white and smelled like disinfectant. This small extension of the Apollo cabin rarely was occupied overnight. Campers came here with sprained wrists and skinned knees. These rooms weren't built for sleeping. I stared at the white ceiling and waited for the sunrise.

Right after breakfast Annabeth came to visit me. She sat next to me in a chair pulled close to the bed. She was smiling in that way that made her eyes crinkle up, just a little in the corners. Her teeth were parted just a bit, hardly noticeable, her tongue rested against the back of her front teeth. It wasn't a big smile, but it was rare to see Annabeth so content. She was leaned against the bed, arms crossed. She started telling me about the new training program she was creating for the new campers. It sounded brutal even for Demigod standards.

"Careful Annabeth or you'll break them. What ever happened to easing into the summer?" I asked.

"We're Demigods Percy, We hit the ground running." Someone stopped in the doorway. It was one of the Hermes campers his eyes widened when he saw them.

"Sorry," he said, " I was just looking for Will, someone fell off the rock wall…" he stared at us, his eyes lingered on the bandages wrapped around my chest. He opened and closed his mouth, he looked like a fish. Turning on his heels he walked away. I hated staying in Apollo cabin hospital. There were always people coming and going. You could hear voices in the hall at all times. Campers stopping to ogle the carnage from the fight. I wasn't being seen as me, I was the Demigod that fell to the daughter of Zeus. I was a symbol of Thalia's strength, it was driving me nuts. I must have been scowling because Annabeth leaned over and whispered, "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing," I muttered. I picked at my fingernail. She raised an eyebrow like, I know you better than that. "Just tired of laying around." She nodded, keeping her voice low she said, "I know something that will make you feel better. Yesterday Thalia was sent by Chiron to get started on the fallen branches by the stream and she came to dinner covered in poison oak. Will was busy so Kayla gave her something for it but she was still scratching for hours." She was right I did smile. Annabeth kept me distracted for the next hour or so. I liked that she was whispering. It made it seem like we were the only two people in the world. She leaned forward when I said something, she was really listening. Annabeth's amazing at listening.

Will ran in interrupting us, "I figured it out!" He said. "Something about your case was really bugging me. It was like the answer was on the tip of my tongue. I started looking through all of my old medical journals, and every notebook in my whole cabin. There was nothing! So I went deeper -oh Annabeth you'd be proud. I found the book of Paeon."

"Paeon, physician of the gods?" Annabeth said surprised. Will nodded,

"It was hidden under a loose stone of Apollo's shrine. The stuff inside… I've never seen anything like it."

"So you figured out how to heal me," I asked.

"That and so much more! The stuff in this book, it's going to save lives." Will pulled a vial out of his back pocket. The contents were dark green and chunky. This is a mixture the Paeon gave to Poseidon after the battle of Troy. It's like a godly energy drink. I adapted it to be safe for a Demigod, if I'm right about this, it will kick-start the healing process.

Will handed me the small vial. I unscrewed the lid and was welcomed by the scent of rotting garbage.I wrinkled up my nose. "I don't want to know what's in this do I," I asked.

"Probably not," Will confirmed. I took one last look at the murky substance. Here goes nothing.

I downed the small vial in one gulp trying not to think about the chunks sliding down my throat. I coughed my eyes were watering. It was somehow spicy, salty, and mud flavored all at the same time. "That's disgusting," I muttered, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

"Well?" Will asked. His eyes were wide and bloodshot. It was hard to explain what I was feeling, kind of like I had just drunk 6 shots of espresso.

"I'm not sure-" Will cut me off by pushing me back so quickly my head hit the backboard. He pushed up my shirt and peeled off the bandages. He had one knee on the bed the other dangling off the side. I was pinned down, his eyes staring at my wound. "Uh- ok…" I said, trying to get used to sharing my personal space. I followed Will's gaze and to my surprise, you could see the wound healing.

"Oh my gods…" Annabeth trailed off, watching the angry lines branching across my chest disappear. Within a few minutes, any trace of an injury was gone.

"Wow…" Will poked my sternum leaning so close his hair was tickling me. "It worked!"

"I'm glad you're excited but could you get off me?" I asked.

"Right, sorry." Will back off plopping into the chair Annabeth had abandoned. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He drummed his fingers on the armrests but couldn't stay still. Jumping to his feet he began to pace around the room. "When I tell my cabin about this they're not going to believe it." He was living in his own little world of sunshine. I looked down at my healed chest and pulled down my t-shirt. The room seemed brighter and maybe it was a side effect of that Godly energy drink but I felt like I could run a marathon.

"So can Percy leave?" Annabeth asked. I looked at her I couldn't wait to stretch my legs, get out of this stuffy room.

"Yeah, I don't see why not," Will said. I grinned and slid my feet to the floor. Standing for the first time in over a day felt amazing. "You're free to go. Technically there's nothing wrong with you but just so you know once that stuff wears off your energy levels are going to plummet. Careful with any physical activity, it will take you a while to build up your stamina back up."

"Thanks," I said. I meant it more than anything I'd said all day.

"No problem," Will replied. A lazy grin settling over his features. I made a beeline for the door. I understood why Will wanted me to take it easy but us Demigods, we hit the ground running.

Thank you so much for your advice and honesty. I tried to put in place your suggestions and I think it really improved the chapter. I know it's not perfect and there are definitely errors- I'm only human. But please tell me what you think. I know this chapter doesn't have a ton of action. I tried to change the mood with the sweet little conversation between Percy and Annabeth. I hope you're still interested because I'm excited for what's coming next. I love love, love hearing from you. Until tomorrow, i can never tell.