~ ☼ ~

Hemmings made it successfully all the way to the Plaza Hotel. And though I was relieved beyond relief to finally be back around other half bloods, I didn't get off with Lacey and Liz, even though I was exhausted. I had to find Riley.

But while Hemmings and I flew back out, I couldn't find her. We canvassed all of down and midtown, because she couldn't have made it any further than that. but despite my best attempts to look - and my noticing a few other monsters and half-bloods alike, on missions or doing their own thing, I couldn't find my sister. Pain and anxiety began to form in my stomach; it eventually got so bad that I had to go back to the hotel. Maybe I had been dumb and she had actually found a ride there, too.

Will and my remaining siblings had set up a small infirmary in the Plaza lobby, and there were other people I recognized in the chairs - Connor Stoll, one of Katie's sisters, a few Hephaestus kids that were all grouped together. And other than that, there was a group of Demeter kids over by the fake plants, discussing plans. It was small, but it was something, and it made me feel better.

Still, I felt empty as I went to squeeze the pommel of Liakada, my normal nervous tic, and found it wasn't there.

Lacey and Liz were with their siblings, and neither of them looked my way when I entered.  watched them with narrowed eyes, not liking that lack of closure, then remembered we were literally in camp and also an army together. I'd talk to them again - for better or for worse. For now I had to find someone I could rely on to give me updates.

I turned past the little waiting room into the "infirmary", which was in the lobby proper, past two giant gilded French doors. For a moment, I looked around in awe, unable to believe that I was actually in a place as fancy as this - giant chandeliers, the smell of that fancy hotel perfume somewhere behind all the blood and sweat. A huge staircase perfect for running down. I felt like Eloise, and for a moment, I loved it.

"AJ?"

I looked over to see Will, who was sitting by a chair, having just finished wrapping Jake Mason's hand. Upon making eye contact with me, relief flooded through his face; he stood up and immediately speed walked over to wrap me in a hug.

"Oh my gods," he murmured. "I thought you'd died."

At first, I was shocked. Then, quickly, I hugged him back, not as our best medic but as my little brother. He had to be taking this so hard. Frick.

"I survived," I said. "My pegasus saved me."

I gestured to Hemmings, who had followed me in - where the heck else was he going to go? - and Will closed his eyes, taking it in.

He let go of me, then said, "You have to find Alec. He-" His jaw quivered for a moment. "He's helping Lucky over there. Or, at least, he was before."

"Do you know where Riley is?"

Will's mouth parted in surprise. "No."

He sighed, like he'd just remembered her, too. He was counselor now, after all. My heart broke for him.

I patted him on the shoulder, then frowned, feeling like our dad.

"I'll find her." I said. "Alec and I will, I promise."

Will nodded weakly, and relief flooded through me at the idea of going to see my friend. I think a part of me hadn't been running to find Alec, the moment I got here, in fear of what I'd find. Now that I knew he was safe, I was more than eager to find him. So I asked Hemmings to stay there - out of the way of the medics, of course - and speed walked to the corner Will had pointed to.

Sure enough, Lucky was sitting on a velvet couch, her head tipped back against the wall. And her beautiful face was scratched up, bandages all over it. I gasped, but when she saw me, she gasped even more.

"AJ!" she exclaimed. "Oh gods, I thought-"

She let out a wail, then jumped up to grab me. But she was exhausted and injured, so she could barely make it; awkwardly, I had to fall on top of her lap to hug her back. As uncomfortable as this made me, I let her hug me - let her take in my scent.

"I thought you were dead," she said, through tears. "The first casualty. Oh, gods."

"My pegasus saved me!" I said, against her bleach blonde head. "I thought you all could see that!"

"Not through the clouds," Lucky moaned. "Oh, AJ. It was horrible. You missed this huge battle..."

She let out a huge burst of tears, and tears appeared in my eyes, too. But I ignored them, looking around the lobby for Alec, somewhere in between the furniture, moving half-bloods, sitting pits, and fake plants.

"What happened?" I asked, quietly.

"We were on the bridge to Brooklyn," Lucky said. "Most of us got off, but- Michael, Matt, Aaron, and Imani were all on the bridge when it collapsed. Imani took in a lot of water, but they found her body. She might survive."

Immediately, every breath was taken out of me.

Riley had thought it was just Michael, our leader. But it wasn't. It was Matt, too, our fashion expert, and Aaron, our resident rebel. And possibly Imani, who was 12 at the most.

I let out a wail of my own and let Lucky hug me as we both sobbed.

~ ☼ ~

After we were done - well, after I was done, because I was growing embarrassed - I pulled away.

"Do you know where Alec is?"

"I think he's helping Imani," Lucky said. "We - we tried to get Percy's help, since, you know - water? But he's so busy. Annabeth's been poisoned or something, and he's super wiped out, anyway. We're hoping once he gets some rest he'll be able to do it."

I didn't really care, quite frankly, what Percy was doing, but I didn't like that Annabeth was poisoned. Though, after everything, that didn't hit nearly as much as it should. All I knew now was that I had to make sure Alec really was alive - and hold on to him while I could. Even if I'd left the sickle, my sword, and Riley behind.

I swore, and Lucky patted my back.

"They're in the bathroom."

"The bathroom?" I repeated.

She nodded. "I think Brynn was going too. I don't know. She was soaking wet and Brynn didn't want it to get on the carpet or something."

I frowned. Stupid, but idiosyncratic. At least Brynn had retained a quirk.

"Okay," I said. "Will you be okay?"

Lucky nodded as I got up, then said, "Where's Riley?"

I paused, trying not to cry again.

"I don't know," I admitted. "I lost her."

Lucky's lip quivered, and I waited for the blow - waited for the blame.

Then she said, "She'll find her way back. She's psychic."

She tapped her temple, then winced. The wince was so ruinous to her bit that she giggled, and so did I. 

~ ☼ ~

When I wandered over to the bathroom, I felt a pit in my stomach. On one hand, I was excited to see Alec, but on the other, I was nervous. I didn't know how he'd react - didn't know how much he'd been offended. Some very immature part of me was jealous that after seeing me fall, he'd decided to become a medic again. Compared to Riley, who'd decided to just start walking aimlessly like Forrest Gump.

Love for her glowed in my heart, then I pushed the family bathroom door open.

Sure enough, on the speckled marble floor, next to an open toilet and very fancy sink, Imani was laying with her head propped up on a pillow. They'd kept her hijab on, but it had obviously dried in an awkward way, along with the rest of her clothes. Brynn was on her knees, taking her vitals while Alec sat criss-cross and watched with a very, very severe face. He looked like he was overseeing an exam at a medical school.

But when I opened the door, he looked at me immediately, and every line disappeared.

His mouth opened. "AJ?"

"Oh my gods," said Brynn. "Oh - my gods."

She stayed sitting, overseeing Imani, while Alec jumped to his feet. For a moment, we just stood there, unsure how to face the rush of emotions. Then he just pulled me close to him and hugged me.

It was possibly the greatest hug I'd ever gotten, though then again I didn't get a lot of them. Probably because it was the only hug I'd ever gotten where I felt both safe and alive at the same time.

Alec hugged me so tight that I would've otherwise felt embarrassed, but I was just happy he was safe. He smelled like blood, sweat, and magic, probably from the ambrosia and nectar. Then, like he knew what I was thinking, he pulled away.

"Are you okay?" he asked, still holding me by the shoulders and inspecting my eyes like he was an optometrist. "Do you need ambrosia? What the Hades happened?"

"Yes," I said, first. My eyes went nervously to Brynn, but she was watching me with concern, too. Alec, noticing, let go of me, and I added, "Yes, and I'll tell you everything."

Now that I was free, for better or for worse, Brynn hugged me, too. I valued it less than I had Alec. I was starting to go a little numb.

"Brynn, do you have Imani?"

"Wait-" I said. "Don't - if she's on life support..."

"There's nothing else we can do right now," Brynn said. "We're just keeping her steady."

Alec nodded. "Let me know if something happens."

Brynn saluted. "Got it, doctor."

I smiled, half jealous and half proud of him, as he steered me out of the bathroom with a tired smile shot my sister's way. Of course, you could say our sister - he'd known Brynn for longer than he knew me - but I didn't know anymore.

"Is she your nurse or something?" I asked him.

"Nope. What, do you think girls can't be doctors?"

I scoffed. "She called you doctor."

"We're co-doctors," he said, smiling. "Now Will? He's the nicest. He's definitely the nurse."

I laughed as Alec led me to a quiet space.

He actually took me up the stairs, to a room. I gasped when he opened it, both at the fact that he had a room and at the room itself - and by room, I mean a suite, with its own miniature living room and gods, I don't know, probably a fountain of gold in the toilet. But Alec turned back to me and hugged me again. For a moment, I just hugged him back, almost crying again.

"I can't believe you're okay," he whispered. "I thought you were dead."

Now I really did cry, softly, into his chest. I felt beyond stupid, because I'd never done this before. Closest thing I'd gotten, maybe, was Kiera and I and then, Aria and I bonding last summer. And Alec comforting me after Lucas and Kiera's death, of course.

"I couldn't find Riley," I said, pulling away.

Alec's face fell, but he looked away, like he was already resigned to this fact. I imagined seeing me again was less like finding a missing person and more like seeing Jesus rise from the tomb. Maybe that was why he'd given up on his fight and gone back to being a medic.

"Alec," I said. "I saw Riley. We hung out - well, I mean, we were together. Then we got separated again. She's out there - she might be fine. I swear it."

Alec's brown eyes widened now, and his voice was rushed when he said, "Are you serious?"

I nodded, and he let out a long breath of relief. Guilt hit me like a truck, in case I was getting his hopes up. After all, I might've seen her earlier, but she had literally vanished into thin air now.

Alec swallowed, then led me over to a couch. It was plush and very soft. I could melt into it easily, but for once, I had no desire to turn on the TV. Alec got something out of the mini fridge - orange juice and ambrosia - then handed them both to me.

"No nectar?" I asked.

"We're rationing it." He sat down across from me, looking at me like he was my therapist but giving me a smile, anyway. It almost made me feel better.

"Tell me everything," he said. "Give me a reason to believe."

~ ☼ ~

When I was done, I waited for him to give me an analysis of the situation. Like, where Riley could've gone, or how exactly I was expected to help the dryads of Central Park. Instead, he just closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were filled with tears.

"You need rest," he said, immediately.

"What!" I exclaimed. "Riley's still out there! And I just ate ambrosia!"

"AJ, I can promise you, if it was Riley, I'd be telling her the same thing. This is a needle in a haystack. You're looking for one person in all of New York." I felt a bit of sadness at that, that he wouldn't go searching for me if it was me that was missing. Then again, he always was woefully responsible. Until this summer.

I nibbled on what was left of my ambrosia, watching Alec as he walked towards me. He stopped right in front of me and stared down at me.

"Get up," he said, then smiled.

"Where am I going?"

"You're going to bed."

I gasped, sitting up, and almost argued again, but I knew better. Instead, I just scowled, and he added, "Percy's in bed."

"Yeah, so what?"

"If Percy Jackson can take a rest," he said, "You can, too. You've been up half the night." 

When I said nothing, just continued to stare at him, he sighed.

"All right, you made me do this."

Then, he bent down and picked me up. I let out a holler, hitting him, and he stumbled. He didn't exactly have a warrior build.

"Put me down!" I said, hitting him in the chest. "I refuse! I'm meant to fight!"

Alec shook his head, keeping his eyes blankly ahead, though he was restraining a grin. It was enough to make me begin to laugh, though it was one of those laughs that was half a laugh, half a fight, and half bashfulness.

"Alexander!" I exclaimed.

Just as I think I could've wiggled my way out, he dropped me onto the bed in the actual bedroom. For a moment, I once again could focus on nothing that I was in a bed made for a socialite. Then I was laughing, and Alec was too. He collapsed into the bed too, and we laughed like we were on nitrous oxide. I think it might've been a trauma response.

"Okay," Alec said, once we'd calmed ourselves down enough. He sat up and almost patted me on the shoulder, than stopped. That would make him my brother again.

"I'm gonna go tell everyone to look out for Riley," he said. "And get you some food. It'll be a few minutes. Get some sleep."

I nodded, smiling. It wasn't until he was gone that I realized what kind of interaction we'd just had.

At school, there were always those kids who would use physical affection on their friends, whether it was through hugging every six minutes or tasering them in the stomach. Even at camp you saw it all the time. I had never been part of it. Again, not until this summer. It made me feel so good I could almost ignore everything.

But when I was half asleep, under the covers, 10 minutes later, and Alec came back in - placing an orange, a thing of yogurt, and two cold waffles into the mini fridge in the main room. I watched him through the bedroom door, then closed my eyes once he turned my way.

"I saw you're awake, escapee," Alec said, "No need to hide it."

I felt like I was back in the infirmary. At least, I told myself I felt like that, rather than focusing on the fact that I was in a giant fancy bed looking up at Alec. He stepped into the threshold of the bedroom.

"You woke me up."

He frowned. "Did I really? I was trying to be quiet."

"No," I admitted. "I hadn't fallen asleep yet."

"Oh. Good."

We stared at each other for a moment, our rapport from earlier gone. Then he said, "Well, I got you some breakfast. Sorry the waffles are cold. We tried to raid their pantry and get all their breakfast buffet stuff."

"It's perfect," I said. "Can you bring it to me?"

He did as I asked him too, and once I was nestled up in the bed, chewing cold waffles, I asked him how much time I had.

He checked his watch. "Depends. The Titan Army retreated. Unless they start charging again, I think we're all just hanging out."

"Oh," I said. "Okay."

Awkward silence.

"Did you ask about Riley?"

"I told Malcolm," Alec said. "He said he was just about to send two of his siblings out to... do something, I don't know, and he'd keep a look out."

I felt sick. I wasn't doing enough.

"If it were Riley," Alec reminded me, "She would be resting. I mean, she wouldn't be happy about it, but-"

"I have a pegasus, Alec," I reminded him.

Alec raised an eyebrow. "I am aware. I said hi to him while I was downstairs, though I don't think he likes me as much as he likes you."

I couldn't help but giggle.

"I'll remind you that you already tried on the pegasus."

"I could keep trying."

"And be no help tonight when you're falling over because you're half asleep."

I frowned, swallowing my last piece of waffle. As I thought about it, I realized it was what I'd just told Riley. Even if it ultimately hadn't been applicable to what she'd been going through, I still believed it. But it was different when I told Riley versus when Alec was telling me. Because it was me!!!

For a moment, we both just sat there. Alec had gotten himself an orange, too, and we peeled and ate ours simultaneously. We both loved our citrus.

Then I asked, "So stuff is happening tonight?"

"That's what they think," Alec said. "I don't know. I try not to pay attention to the strategy stuff. It's too overwhelming."

I wanted to ask him why he'd gone back to being a medic, but I didn't want to overwhelm him further, so I just nodded and ate my orange.

Finally, as we finished our snacks, I got up to throw the yogurt cup away and asked, "Do you need to go back and help Imani?"

"That's what I was going to do," he said. "There hasn't been any change, but I feel bad just leaving her."

"If I need rest, you need it, too."

He pursed his lips, getting up from the bed. That's not exactly the reaction I expected.

"Yeah," he said. "Well, good thing we're in a 300 bedroom hotel. Though I'm sure half of them are taken by sleeping mortals."

He let out an awkward laugh, then clapped the door frame. "I'll let you get some sleep."

He wandered back into the living room, towards the front door, and I almost let him. But something in me must've broken when the bridge did or something, because I didn't. I called out, "Wait. Alec."

Nervousness hit me like a rocket as I waited for him to appear again. Cmon AJ. What the Hades was that?

He appeared, looking hopeful. "Yeah?"

"Stay with me," I said. "Please. I need a hug and I don't want to be alone. I know that we're-"

Alec didn't let me be mean to myself. He immediately stepped into the bedroom and went over to the other side of the bed. I got back to where I was, and then...

I'd never once cuddled with someone before, other than my parents when I was little. But Alec took me in his arms and didn't let me run away. He held me so tightly that I felt like I was safe, and for once, we didn't let go of each other.

As I fell asleep, I swear I felt him kiss me on the head, like he was reminding me he had me as I ran away to dream land.

~ ☼ ~

A/N: I would do anything to stay at the Plaza. So happy Rick chose that as their base in TLO so I could write about it T_T

Also I love Alec <3 <3 <3