ONE LAST TIME . . . heroes of olympus

28

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL didn't want to let an unscheduled helicopter land at the Oakland Airport — until Kat got on the radio with her persuasiveness. Then it turned out to be no problem.

They unloaded on the tarmac, and everyone looked at Piper.

"What now?" Jason asked her.

"First thing," she said. "I — I have to get my dad home. I'm sorry, guys."

Their faces fell. Kat tried not to show her disappointment, but she was probably failing. It was selfish; Piper's dad was like this, and Kat was sad about her not staying? She's the stupidest person ever.

"Oh," Leo said. "I mean, absolutely. He needs you right now. We can take it from here."

"Pipes, no. " Her dad had been sitting in the helicopter doorway, a blanket around his shoulders. But he stumbled to his feet. "You have a mission. A quest. I can't—"

"I'll take care of him," said Hedge.

Piper stared at him in shock. "You?" she asked.

"I'm a protector," Hedge said. "That's my job, not fighting."

He sounded a little crestfallen, and Kat recalled when Piper had recounted how he got knocked unconscious in the last battle.

Then Hedge straightened, and set his jaw. "Of course, I'm good at fighting, too." He glared at them all, daring them to argue.

"Uh huh," said Kat.

"Terrifying," agreed Leo.

The coach grunted. "But I'm a protector, and I can do this. Your dad's right, Piper. You need to carry on with the quest."

"But . . ." Piper's eyes filled with tears. "Dad . . ."

He held out his arms, and she hugged him.

"Let's give them a minute," Jason said, and they took the pilot a few yards down the tarmac.

Hedge roped the pilot into helping him call the plane, though she needed a little convincing. Luckily, Kat excelled at that. She chipped in on some of the work in getting the plane so she could say that she did something throughout this quest. While this was happening, Jason and Leo dashed off, and she looked over to see Piper holding her dad, who was slumped forward, his eyes rolled up in his head. Kat and Hedge rushed over to help after the boys.

"Got him," Hedge said. The satyr stumbled, but he was strong enough to hold Tristan McLean upright. "I already asked our ranger friend to call up his plane. It's on the way now. Home address?"

Piper shoved her hand in her dad's pocket, taking out a BlackBerry.

"Everything's on here," she said. "Address, his chauffeur's number. Just watch out for Jane."

Hedge's eyes lit up, like he sensed a possible fight. "Who's Jane?"

By the time Piper explained, a sleek white Gulf-stream had taxied next to the helicopter.

Hedge and the flight attendant got Piper's dad on board. Then Hedge came down one last time to say his good-byes. He gave Piper a hug, nodding at Kat and glared at Jason and Leo. "You cupcakes take care of this girl, you hear? Or I'm gonna make you do push-ups."

"What about Kat?" Piper frowned.

Kat rolled her eyes. "I can take care of myself, you know this."

"So?" Hedge barked at Jason and Leo.

"You got it, Coach," Leo said, a smile tugging at his mouth.

"No push-ups," Jason promised.

Piper gave the old satyr one more hug. "Thank you, Gleeson. Take care of him, please."