Demons, Demigods and Hunters (Percy Jackson/Supernatural)

Chapter 13

Anna

Anna took another heavy swallow from the tumbler in her hand. She was in Indiana, tracking down a pastor who claimed to have seen beyond the veil. The pastor was an idiot. But on her way out she'd run into Nico. The son of Hades pretended he didn't see her. Had looked away, as though she didn't exist to him anymore.

It's almost been four months with no contact between the two. And when she finally got to see her little brother, he refused to acknowledge her. And it was Anna's fault. So instead of being an adult and dealing with her problems, she wandered into a bar and ordered several drinks. She tried to go slowly, but that day was special. Nico knew it was special. But he acted like he didn't care. Just like when she'd left him. It was all Anna's fault.

She glared at the bottom of her glass. She was buying drink by drink, trying to keep the consumption of alcohol reasonable. But today was special damn it. Today after all, was the anniversary of her Abba's death. She had already drunk the finger of her father's special whiskey in his honor. Now she was drinking to drink. She waved the bartender over and ordered another round, dropping a couple bills. The room seemed to sway around her a little. It was strange. She suddenly decided to cut herself off, dropping more money to cover the wasted drink and unsteadily making her way out of the bar.

Somewhere in her drunk mind she realizes that trying to ride her bike is a piss poor choice. So instead of riding, she props herself up with the heavy machine and slowly and unsteadily walks along the road, completely ignoring the loud wailing sirens as police cars race past her. Anna stumbled along down the road, trying to make her way out to the clearing where she could pitch the tent Thalia had gifted her last time she had run into the huntress. But Anna was too drunk, and too frustrated, to understand where she was actually going. The world spun strangely and Anna gave up. She managed to yank the bike far over to the side of the road and Anna sat on the ground, trying and failing, at breathing through the nausea that washed over her.

'I drank to much.' Anna sighed to herself. She didn't even look up when a car pulled over. Today was special. And she was being stupid on it. If something bad happened, well, today was special for bad things.

"Anna?" A familiar voice called. She waved lazily as she took another deep breath. She didn't bother reaching for her weapons. Too drunk to do any damage. So drunk, in fact that she was more likely to kill herself, than any attacker if she tried to draw a weapon. Even drunk, Anna was oddly logical. A gift from her mother probably. Or a curse from her dangerous life. She couldn't decide which.

Dean crouched down next to her, his face swimming in the corner of her eyes.

"Sup'" She mumbled. Another door slammed. The loud sound made her wince. Big feet walked over and suddenly she was standing. Anna wavered on her feet and promptly sat down again. She was on the floor for a reason damn it.

"Anna, what's wrong?" Sam's voice was soft. Sweet. Like cotton candy. Anna giggled at the thought. A rough hand swiped at her face, a calloused thumb rubbing over her cheek.

"Anna, sweetheart, what's wrong?" This time it was Dean. Dean was rough, with hard edges and coarse words. But inside he was shiny. She told him so.

"Like those pretty rocks inside but not so pretty on the outside rocks. Even if you are a pretty on the outside kind of rock too." She mumbled out. Sam snorted in surprise as Dean hauled her to her feet again. This time she stayed up. But her feet weren't on the floor. Anna glared at her toes that were hovering in the air as Dean carried her. It was like a betrayal. Her feet should be on the ground. Not above it.

"You're drunk." Dean sighed. Anna laughed, leaning her head all the way back, relishing in the sensation of the cold wind breezing across her neck. She looked over at Dean's face and lazily poked his cheek.

"Nope.' She said cheerily, popping the p hard. 'Today is special. So I'm going to a place. A place because today was special." She insisted. She needed to get back to her campsite. She wanted to unpack her tent and keep remembering her Abba. And forgetting how she hurt Nico.

'No, don't think about that, that way leads to bad.' Anna frowned at the thought. She was bad. Anna felt a few traitorous tears slip down her face. She was bad, because she hurt Nico. She left him alonewhen he was already so lonely and only just learning to let others in and she left. Anna did bad.

She hadn't quite noticed that she was saying this out loud. She was too busy trying to not throw up on Dean. Anna ignored the flashing lights of the police cars as they drove past again. She just mumbled about how bad she'd been and how she'd hurt Nico and she felt so terribly bad about it but it was too late and now it was the special day and she didn't have Nico anymore. Anna was tired. And she missed her fratellino.

"Sammy, take her bike and her stuff. I'm putting her in the car. You go check on Ava, I'm taking Anna back to the motel." Dean's voice rumbled through his chest. Anna suddenly felt the urge to giggle. So she giggled. It was nice. So were the rumbles in Dean's chest when he talked. Anna tipped her face forward and suddenly remembered why she had been at the bar.

Today was special and Nico had ignored her. Anna frowned. She tried to get down on the ground, wanting to pull out the bottle of cheap tequila she had wanted for later to sleep, but she wanted it now instead. Dean didn't let go, and instead walked to the Impala he so loved. Anna grumbled half heartedly, but allowed herself to be laid across the backseat when she realized that inside the car was warmer than the outside. She settled in as Dean and Sam chatted in quiet voices for another minute. The car door slammed. The whole car growled under her body as the engine turned over. The rumbling was soothing.

"Dean?" Anna mumbled. The older Winchester looked back at her.

"Yeah?"

"Just checking it was you." She muttered and fell asleep.