Annabeth but her lip as she studied Percy's face. He was pale, cheeks flushed, breathing hard.

"Can you look at me?" She asked gently.

"Dizzy," he mumbled, swallowing thickly. When he opened his eyes it took him a minute to focus them on her. "You're pretty."

"And you're burning up," Annabeth sighed, feeling his skin under her hand.

"B-but Annab-beth, I'm cold." Percy stuttered, his tone a bit whiny.

"That's because you're half naked," she said flatly. "Come on, let's get you up."

Percy tried to help her, knowing that even though he was slim, he would be heavy for her, but it mostly only thanks to the door that she got him to his feet at all.

"An-n-na-beth," he whined. "I'm c-cold."

"I know you are, Percy." She muttered, throwing his arm around her shoulders as she wrapped an arm around his waist. Usually, this kind of contact would make her shiver, in a pleasant way, but right now it didn't. "Come on, sit here, we need to try and get some medicine in your system."

Percy sat down at the kitchen table and put his head down. His body was starting to shiver, and it made Annabeth's heart hurt. She ran her fingers through his hair, alternately wondering if he had tried to take any medicine and if she could do anything to make him feel better.

"M-my head hurts." Percy moaned.

"How bad?" She whispered.

"Really bad," Percy sounded close to tears.

"Alright, well I can get you some ibuprofen."

"Wouldn't stay d-down." Percy gave a violent shiver and hugged his arms tightly around his body. "I'm t-too nauseous f-for it."

"Please, Percy, will you try it? For me?"

Percy nodded weakly, and Annabeth dug through a cabinet until she found what she easy looking for. When she set the pills on the table, Percy lifted his head and eyed them warily.

"Come on, Seaweed Brain, it's just some medicine for you. It'll make you feel better." She coaxed, and when he had managed to put them in his mouth she held a glass of water to his lips. "Are you going to be sick?"

Percy hesitated then shook his head weakly. "Not yet."

"Okay, now I'll get you something for your stomach."

"No," Percy protested, shivering more violently. There were small beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead. "N-No, Annabeth. Th-that stuff is n-nasty."

"I know it is, Seaweed Brain, but I'm trying to help you." She gave him a sad smile, then found a half-empty bottle of Pepto.

Unfortunately, the smell alone sent Percy running for the bathroom. Annabeth followed him, and as she saw him spit saliva into the toilet she prepared herself for what came next. As she knelt next to him, his body lurched forward, and Annabeth kept her eyes glued on his muscles. They were flexing with each heave, and though she didn't like why they were flexing, it was better than actually watching him vomit. She rubbed her thumb in little circles on his arm, moving to his back, and she almost thought he relaxed a little.

"Does your mom do this? With your back," Annabeth asked.

"Something like it," Percy's voice was weak. "But it's d-different with you."

"Should I stop?"

"N-no," he whispered. "No, I like it."

Annabeth sighed. "I'm sorry you're sick, Seaweed Brain."

"You don't have to be in here," Percy managed to say before another wave of nausea shut him up. "I'll be okay. I know it's gross."

"I'm fine," Annabeth said softly, though the sounds of him being sick made her feel bad. She had dealt with sick people before, but it was different with Percy. With Percy she actually cared.

"I'm tired, Annabeth." Percy sounded close to tears, and he coughed loudly.

Annabeth winced as he threw up again. "Were you sick before I got here? Like this, I mean?"

"Yes," he moaned and clutched his stomach. His voice dropped to a dull whisper. "It hurts so bad."

He ducked his head again, practically hiding his face in the bowl, and Annabeth grimaced, continuing to rub circles in his back. His whole body trembled violently, and little beads if sweat dripped down the back of his neck.

"I'm here, Percy." She whispered. "You'll be okay."

There was a hesitant knock at the door, and as Annabeth glanced up it opened and Paul looked in.

"What's going on?" He asked nervously. "Annabeth, why are you--"

Percy chose that moment to heave violently, sick over and over.

"I knew something was wrong," Paul sighed, then swore.

"Don't f-feel bad," Percy managed to say. "I d-didn't want you to know."

"Why?"

Percy threw up in response, and Annabeth sighed before answering for him. "His mom is out of town, right?"

"Yes, so?"

"So she'd come back early if she knew." Annabeth shrugged.

"Not everyone would do th-that." Percy stuttered, lifting his head a little. "I really w-want her here but I c-can't. She d-does everything for me. She's out doing something f-fun for herself, I c-can't--"

"It's okay, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth whispered as he hid his head again as his muscles rippled. "You're okay."

Paul nervously stepped out, leaving them alone, and finally Percy sat back and nestled his head against her shirt. His breath was warm and gross, making her stomach clench, but she kissed the top of his head and flushed the toilet for him.

"Come on, let's get you to bed. You can get some pajamas on."

"I'm af-fraid to move," he whispered.

"Do you want to stay here for awhile?" Percy nodded weakly, and Annabeth hugged him a bit closer. "Okay, Seaweed Brain, we'll stay here."