A Prius speeds down a lonely country road with only two occupants and a very quiet radio. They keep the windows rolled up and speak only occasionally to each other, both thinking about the trip ahead of them. They head south, away from all that's familiar, to South Carolina where they will get a row boat, in which they will cross the Atlantic.

A rowboat may seem to imply that the couple is ignorant and reckless, something like that cannot cross an ocean. However the driver of the car, an eighteen year old boy with black hairand sea green eyes just happens to be the son of the sea god himself. 

Alicia leans back in her seat, watching the scenery zip by outside the window. Perhaps if they weren't going eighty she would get the chance to see more than blurs of browns and greens. She isn't worried that her boyfriend is speeding. She only worries that some nosy cop will come along to hinder their progress. 

Percy doesn't want her on this quest. It's not because he doesn't like her, he certainly does, but that he doesn't like even the idea of her going anywhere near danger. It's why she let him convince her not to seek help from any of ther others. However she wasn't just going to sit around, waiting for someone who may or may not come back. It's better that she goes along just to make sure he makes it alive.

She looks over at him. His shoulders are tense and he stares straight ahead at the road. There are bags under his eyes that make her worry. She can sense that sagging effect of his fatigue. Things have been going well lately. Percy's life seems to be back on track, but he is still plagued by worry and his dreams are haunted by nightmares that may never go away. Since the event towards the end of the summer, just before his birthday, with Director Fury he has collapsed twice in exhaustion and Al fears that one of these times he won't get back up after a little sleep.

"What are you looking at?" Percy asks, wtihout looking away from the road.

She reaches out and clasps his hand. "You're tired. It's time for you to rest. Let me drive for a little while."

He looks like he wants to argue, but after a moment he nods and pulls over to the side. They switch places and start up again, going no than before. Percy lays the seat back and lays on his side, facing Alicia. He watches her quietly until his eyes droop and he falls asleep. 

She never actually answered his question.

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Manhattan seems to bustle more feverishly than before. Hermes watches the activity from atop a small four story building. He's wearing a jogging suit as always and has a small silver phone clutched tightly in one hand. His eyes flick continuously back to one group of people in particular. Four high school students stand huddled outside of Percy Jackson's apartment building talking in low, rapid tones. They are Alicia's infamous les amis. They worry for their friend who recently took an unannounced trip to who-knows-where. 

Well Hermes knows where, he is the god of travelers after all, but he is not inclined to tell them. They aren't involved in any of what's going on as they are mortals. They still managed to have pretty good theories and the mischievous messenger has a feeling that they may eventually find themselves with the truth.

Still as amusing as this is, he has more pressing matters. He doesn't normally interfere with the lives of heroes, but this particular incident has sparked his concern. His half brother, Apollo, has a foreboding and Hermes fears it is because Percy has set forth with only one companion and he has yet to learn to rely on his family too sometimes. Apollo warned that if things continue this way that the world may loose someone very dear and important, the stubborn glue that unites so much that is otherwise at conflict.

He arrives in the living room of the Stark tower to utter chaos and no one even notices his abrupt arrival. The Avenger team is all there, along with Pepper Potts, Annabeth Chase, Grover Underwood and Nico Di Angelo. They all argue furiously and it seems they are placing the blame on one another.

Hermes sighs and snaps his fingers. Immediately the noise becomes extremely muffled as the people (plus Satyr) find themselves unable to open their mouths. "There," the god sighs. "sometimes it helps if you just zip it."

Annabeth's eyes are wide and she seems to be in too much shock to remember to bow. Grover doesn't however as he stumbles to take a knee. Nico just makes a noise is the back of his throat similar to a scoff, but slightly more frustrated. Everyone else just looks surprise, confused and a bit on ready to kill him. He's a bit glad for the whole not-being-able-to-die thing, because that Pepper does look a bit scary.

"Now is everyone ready to talk like civilized people?" At the round of nods, Hermes snaps his fingers and everyone sucks in a giant breath when they can finally open their mouths. None of them speak though. "Good now I have a bit of news to deliver that I think you might want to hear."

"Wait," Tony interrupts.

"Who are you?" Natasha interjects before Stark can say something about the guy getting past his security systems.

Hermes grimaces and Nico steps forward. "That doesn't matter right now. What is it that we might want to hear?" 

"Please Lord Hermes," Annabeth adds, to correct the son of Hades disrespectful tone. Gods, the kid has the same lack of obedience as Percy. 

The Avengers' eyes (plus Pepper's) widen, all except Thor who simply looks perplexed. The god of messengers rubs the bridge of his nose. "As I was saying, very important news. Percy Jackson his heading towards Polybotes old prison. He might need a little help when he gets there."

The rooms once again erupts in sound, this time a bombardment of questions directed to the man with winged shoes. He groans. He almost wishes George and Martha weren't giving him the silent treatment from when they got into the debate about snakes being the reason why Voldemort was evil. With little warning he flashes out. Annabeth just has time to tell everyone to close their eyes.

Shame too. Nobodies really been incinerated since the start of the 21st century and it gets kind of boring sometimes. Stupid laws about not harming mortals. In the Ancient times they could just smite whoever annoyed them, but noooo that might be counterproductive. 

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The sun is just setting when they manage to push the little rowboat away from shore. It's so small and worn out, yet it had cost them the rest of their money to buy and pay for a storage area for Paul's car for the next couple months. (They have no clue when they'll get around to picking it up when this is all over)

Percy stil looks worn out, having awoken several times during the car ride from nightmares. He doesn't yell or cry. Nothing like that. He learned to be strong after being relied on for the first war. Still he never asked to drive again. It was painfully obvious to them both that he would not be able to.

As they push away, Alicia bundles in a thick blanket. She has several things piled around her to hopefully keep her cozy on the journey, things they brought with them from home. Percy on the other hand is perfectly at home in the cool air. He refreshes him just slightly. The cooler with the food is tucked in the back and Percy will use his abilities to remove the salt from the water, a trick he learned while on the Argo II. 

They settle down for the long hall and Percy prepares himself for one of the longest and hardest journeys of his life. He's already exhausted and he can't sleep to rejuvenate himself. Now he has to control a boat all the way across the Atlantic and then fight a giant that is made to be his natural enemy. All while protecting Alicia.

Percy only hopes that he will have enough strength to last that long or at least taht he can find the most amazing dream catcher ever.

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yay next chapter is up. You know the dril. Vote, comment and follow me.

I'm not really going to name these chapters anymore, I'm just going to lable them by number. Sorry if you don't like that, but it's easier on me and it feels more like an actual book this way.

I hope you enjoyed and no I haven't edited it yet. I will soon though. So no need to correct mistakes I will get around to fix them. Don't worry.

~Halie