"Oh my gods, Dad is letting me go!" Sage laughed excitedly. "Can you believe it?!"

"No, I honestly can't. I swear he wanted to rip my head off and eat me for dinner." Sage snickered.

"Most likely. He eats babies."

"What?!"

"Oh no, wait… that's my brother." Dean choked.

"Which brother?" He asked feebly.

"Max." The vampire, she added silently, but she didn't say that out loud. Dean would have her and her family carted to the loony bin for sure.

"Oh dear lord… Um…" Sage burst out laughing.

"It says gullible on the ceiling."

"Wh-? Oh, damn you!"

"Ahaha, I win!"

"I'll go and see Lego Movie with someone who's nice."

"Like who?"

"Lilly."

"You leave my sister out of this!" Sage growled. Dean whimpered fearfully and Sage knew she had put him in his place.

"I'll be there in ten. Be ready, doll. Byeeees!" He cut off before she could say anything.

Why did she get the idiots as friends?

Dean was true to his word, turning up on her doorstep in ten minutes.

Unfortunately for him, Percy had been waiting for him.

"What time does the film finish?"

"About eight, sir."

"I want her back by half past then."

"Yes, sir."

"Dad…" Sage complained. "That's barely enough time to get to McDonalds."

"Looks like you're going hungry then."

"Percy!" Annabeth protested, trying and failing to keep her tone completely light and jokey. She glared at her husband in warning. "Nine at the latest."

"Half past." Percy persisted. He fixed a steely look on his daughter and she realised it would have to be half past or she would never get to go out again.

Sighing, she nodded in agreement rather reluctantly.

"Come on, we're going to be late for the movie." She waved Dean out, grabbing her jacket as she passed.

"Your dad doesn't like me, does he?"

"No, he's going to fatten you up and have you for breakfast."

"Oh… He's such a lovely guy."

"Mmm…" Sage hummed noncommittally. "You're buying popcorn."

"But I bought the tickets too!"

"Dad didn't give me any money. The no-boys thing, remember?" He held his hands up innocently.

"That wasn't just my fault. It takes two to tango."

"OK, whatever."

August got a very frantic and very slurred phone call from her husband just as she was approaching her car to return home.

"Andrew, slow down. What's happened to Tyler?" Her heart pounded in panic. Her baby had to be OK, he was her baby.

"I… I was trying to go down the stairs and… he pulled me back… I got mad… tripped… he… fell…" August felt like her legs had turned to jelly and her heart seemed to explode. Feeling dizzy, she gripped the handle of her car door, taking deep breaths to steady herself.

"Did you ring an ambulance?"

"Yes."

"What did you say?"

"He fell."

"I'll be home soon. Don't move him." She snapped her phone shut, cursing her husband's stupidity. She had known his drinking habits would lead to trouble and now look! He was a bumbling, self-centred moron! Why was she still with him?

She got home in record time, most likely breaking a few- or more- road laws as she did so. She blasted round corners like a rocket possessed, narrowly skimming other cars and maybe a red light, she wasn't focused.

The ambulance was there as she pulled up. They were just bringing Tyler out, his neck secured in a cast and an oxygen bag to his face.

"Tyler!" She cried, running forward. The paramedic stepped aside and let her walk alongside them. She took Tyler's hand in her own, tears tumbling haphazardly as there was no responsive squeeze of her fingers.

She looked up at the paramedic imploringly. "Where's my husband?"

"Over there, ma'am." He pointed. Andrew stood with a police officer, his hands cuffed behind his back as he openly sobbed and feebly answered the policeman's questions. She stormed over to him, trying to keep her anger and hurt in check. She didn't want the stress of her husband getting arrested.

"August…" His eyes widened when he saw her. "It… I… it was an accident, I swear. He… I…" August ignored him and turned to the cop.

"My husband had nothing to do with this."

"Well, ma'am, he's said otherwise. And you weren't present- we can't take a statement from you."

"Yes, my husband is drunk and yes, my son is hurt," Her voice caught, but she ploughed on, "And I know this looks bad, but it is just terrible circumstances. You cannot arrest my husband for a crime he is innocent of."

"We'll let the court decide that, ma'am."

"Court?" Her heart hammered in her ears. "I don't think that's necessary." From the corner of her eye, she saw the two paramedics load her unconscious son into the back of the ambulance. She looked at her husband, who was sniffing and crying, his eyes red rimmed and puffy.

Pity tore at her heart, but she steeled her resolve and bunched her fists. He was the reason Tyler was in this mess in the first place. She would not comfort him for his guilt.

"We'll have to take your husband to the station, ma'am, but you are free to go with your son." August bowed her head, turning to face her husband. She said nothing, but her eyes spoke four simple words;

I told you so.

Dean laughed heartily. They were leaving the cinema, an almost empty popcorn bucket between them.

"Oh, that was fantastic."

"Tobias would definitely like that." Sage smiled. She checked her watch. "If we run, we can grab McDonalds."

"Ugh, run?" His shoulders slouched. "Mmm… but it is McDonalds…"

"Race you?" Sage prompted.

"Fine." He was off like a shot. Sage barrelled after him, catching up and overtaking in seconds. There was no winning against a trained legacy. Especially if they were made to sprint the camp's borders three times in full armour.

Dean protested behind her. "No fair!" Sage darted through the crowds, spying the golden arches of her favourite fast food restaurant. Dean was so going to eat her dust.

She grabbed the door handle first, laughing triumphantly and turning back to face her friend. He was closer than she had first thought, colliding with her and slipping his arms about her waist.

He grinned cheekily. "Hullo."

"Get off." She squirmed, pulling the door open and sliding in. "I'm having a Big Mac and fries. You?"

"Big Mac and fries? Don't you girls, like, watch your weight or something?" She glared at him pointedly and he held his hands up for the second time that night in surrender. "Not all girls are like that, got it. My deepest apologies." He gave a mock bow, sporting an old English accent.

"Shut up, idiot." She shoved him playfully and joined the small queue. "What are you having?"

"Well, depends on how much I've got left, Miss Cheap-skate."

"Blame my dad."

"Well, if somebody followed the rules…"

"Well, if somebody hadn't spent all night texting me…" She countered.

"That was your fault."

"Was not."

"Hm-mm." Dean gave very exaggerated nods of the head, a very pointed look and a goofy laugh. Sage snorted with laughter, wondering if she could squeeze a drink from him as well.

It didn't take them long to get their food, but they eventually had to eat on a bench outside as McDonalds was packed. Dean pelted a few curious pigeons with fries and sent them on their way. Sage pelted him with fries in retaliation for being so mean.

He pulled a particularly long chip from his hair and studied it curiously. "Why hello. Nom." He scoffed it in one go, mashing it up and holding the results between his teeth to show her.

"Pig!" She whacked his arm, flicking a bit of burger bread his way.

"Mmmm... Yummy…"

Sage looked at her watch as they took their rubbish to a nearby bin. She had fifteen minutes to get home.

Running in full armour- OK, she had to.

Running on a full stomach- definitely not OK.

Dean had noticed the time as well and checked his wallet. "I could get us a cab?"

"No, you've spent most of your money tonight as it is."

"Oh, it's OK. I was just joking. My dad let me have fifty for some bizarre reason."

"Really?" Dean nodded. "OK, but only if you don't mind." He waved it off and moved towards the road, hailing a cab in seconds.

They reached Sage's road with minutes to spare. Dean jumped out and held the door for her, taking her hand and pulling her to her feet.

"OK, which one's yours?"

"That one."

"Ugh… walking." Dean obediently followed her, but he was walking slowly. Sage glanced at him and saw something was puzzling her. "Hey, um… Sage?"

"Mmm?"

"Do you mind… I mean, we've got, like, two minutes, so… can I do something before your dad comes out?"

"Um… OK?" He smiled, a hint of nervousness about it, as he stepped forward and pressed his lips to hers.

It took Sage a few seconds to get over the initial shock of it, but he was good.

Time melted away and Dean wrapped his arms around her middle, a grateful squeeze.

"Sage!" They jumped apart and Sage whirled around. Percy stood on the doorstep, glaring at the pair of them. He had his phone in one hand. "I've been trying to call you!" She fumbled for her phone and realised she had forgotten to turn it on. "In!" Percy ordered. "Now!"

"Bye Dean." Sage sighed.

"Bye Sage." He mumbled, a dazed look about his smile. He glanced at Percy and was instantly contrite. Percy was going to have him for breakfast.

By the time Sage had got indoors, her phone had booted up and she had six texts and fourteen missed calls from her father.

"I'm not late, Dad. It's half past now."

"That's not why I was ringing you." He grumbled.

"Why then?"

"Well, why you were busy with your new boyfriend," Percy spat the word as if it tasted disgusting, "Tyler's in hospital."

"What? Why?!" He opened his mouth, probably to say something spiteful and sarcastic- he was not in a good mood- but Annabeth beat him to it, appearing out of nowhere and grabbing his arm.

"Enough, Percy." She warned. Looking at Sage, she sighed. "There was… an accident. Tyler fell down some stairs and he's at the hospital now."

"He'll be OK, right?" Sage despaired, tears burning her eyes. Annabeth mulled over this for a minute, Sage's heart sinking.

"We don't know. He landed awkwardly. His arm's broken and he hit his head on the wall. He's… still unconscious."

"I need to see him." She looked pleadingly at her father, but his expression was stubborn and unhelpful. "Dad, please."

"We'll take you tomorrow, Sage." Annabeth promised. "Visiting hours are over and it's only his parents that are allowed at the moment. Go and get cleaned up and then bed." Sage didn't have the heart to protest, nodding mutely and stumbling upstairs.

Tyler…