Chapter nine

Leo

A/N: Hello my lovely readers! This is 'officially' the last chapter. There will be an epilogue after this though, and I have some surprises in store there! Thanks to everyone who has followed, favorited, or reviewed. You guys are the reason I'm seeing this through to the end. So, enjoy!

-FreakofNature

Leo was on the Argo Two, up to his elbows in grease and various machinery. Percy's hurricane had caused a lot of damage, and Leo had been working on it 24 hours a day, practically living off Red Bull and Oreos, to get it off the ground.

Needless to say, the Argo Two-to-Dragon transformation was not happening. Not if he was going to get to Ogygia anytime soon.

He had to get back to Calypso.

He had to do something right for once.

Leo pried a shredded panel of Celestial bronze off the base of the steering wheel and began splicing together the damaged wires underneath.

At this rate, the boat should be up and flying by nightfall.

There was another reason he needed to leave.

Leo started hammering a new sheet of metal over the repaired wiring.

He couldn't face the other campers knowing that Jason's death was his fault.

Leo hissed as he caught his thumb with the hammer and sucked on the offending finger.

He had only gone back to the camp once since the final battle, to find Jake Mason and ask him to take over as the Hephaestus cabin counselor. Jake had protested, but finally agreed to be head counselor. The Hephaestus campers were better off with him anyways.

Leo stood up and stretched while Festus creaked and clicked at him, reporting that all major damage had been fixed.

"Alright buddy, we'll just get some supplies and then we'll be ready to go."

"Hey." Someone behind him said.

Leo whirled around to see Piper standing there. He hadn't even heard her climb up.

"Piper! Uh… hi." He said eloquently. Festus whirred appreciatively. He'd always liked Piper.

"Um… do you need anything? He asked.

Piper was looking around the ship, arms crossed. Her clothes were drenched. Leo decided not to ask.

Finally, she looked at him. "Are you planning on going somewhere?"

Leo rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I'm going to try to get back to Ogygia."

"When are you leaving?"

"Tonight."

"Without telling anyone?"

Leo frowned. "I didn't think-"

Piper scowled. "Didn't think what? That we'd worry if you disappeared?"

"I didn't think any of you would want me around! Least of all you!" Leo sank to the deck and hid his face in his hands. "I killed my best friend."

He heard Piper walk over and the rustle of her clothes as she sat next to him.

"It wasn't your fault Leo."

"Sure."

"Jason chose to bait Gaea." Piper said, her voice wavering. "He knew it would be dangerous."

"But I took the cure! If you had it you could have saved him."

"The cure was a load of crap, Leo." Piper said softly.

Leo straightened, unsure he'd heard her right. "What?"

"The prophecy said one of us would die. There's no getting around it. There's no way the Fates would've let us cheat our way out of it with the cure."

"Wow." Leo wasn't sure what else to say.

Piper nodded. "The cure wouldn't have saved him either way. It wasn't your fault."

They sat there for a few minutes before Piper broke the silence.

"You said you were going to Ogygia, is that where Calypso is?"

"Yeah." Leo said. "I kind of made a promise."

Piper looked at him. "What?"

Leo told her about Calypso, the island prison no one ever found twice, and how he swore on the river Styx he would get Calypso out of there. With every word, Piper got more and more agitated.

"An Oath to keep with a Final Breath." She murmured.

"What about it?" Leo asked. "You don't think someone else is going to die do you?"

Piper stood up and faced him. "No. It's already been fulfilled. Partly, anyway."

"What do you mean?"

"Jason went to bait Gaea in your place. If he hadn't, you would have died and never gotten back to Calypso. The final breath was Jason's, so that you could stay alive and keep your promise."

Leo stared at her, stunned. "So it was never going to be me." He rubbed his eyes. "Shit, I had the whole prophecy wrong."

Piper held out her hand to help him up. "You'd better get back to her. But not before you come back to the camp and say goodbye."

Leo nodded and took her hand.

"I'm sorry Piper."

"I know."

That night, the remainder of the seven met up on the Argo Two for one last dinner together. Leo couldn't be sure when he would come back, or if he would at all, but he promised them he would do everything he could to come back as soon as possible.

When the time came for him to leave, everyone hugged him goodbye.

Frank and Hazel were the last to go. Hazel gave him a sketch of the six friends together, laughing.

"So you remember you always have a family with us." She said.

Leo didn't know what to say.

"Are you sure you don't want us to come with you?" Frank asked.

Leo shook his head. "No, you know, I love you guys, but this is something I have to do on my own."

They nodded, and hugged him one last time before climbing off the boat. They stood on the ground and watched as Leo hoisted the sails, took the steering wheel, and sailed off into the night.

A/N: There it is! I'd love to hear what you think, so please review!

-FreakofNature