I watched lightning spread from cloud to cloud, from the door of our cabin. Nico sat on the steps at the end of the deck. Above his head the faint symbol of a lyre glowed.

I didn't know why my dad was claiming him again. Or why the symbol was lingering so long above him. It was a riddle for me to solve so I went over to find out.

The symbol grew brighter and winked out of existence with an audible pop. Thanks dad.

I'd been a healer long enough to know that sometimes people couldn't speak for themselves. "You decided that having a family was more important than being in a relationship with me."

"It is." He wouldn't look at me. There was a sudden burst of light over him. Yeah I know dad!

I laughed and I couldn't stop laughing. "Oh gods. Nico, you're doing great."

He glanced at me but his eyes quickly darted back to the ground. "Really?"

"Yeah really. You have everything: a bigger family, a safe home, a job helping others and earning spending cash."

He hitched a sob. "Chiron says I was too young." I felt the jarring shift in the acoustics. Even before Lester had shown up, my dad had been more of an active participant in our lives than the other Olympians. But now it was the same for Nico. "I didn't have any way but forward." He started crying again and I hated it less than his silent panic.

"Yeah I know." I felt so relieved though. Nico was starting to process things in a healthier but still disorganized way. But the feelings of dread he was now experiencing required more. A lot more.

I wish I had been more understanding earlier but I could still help. I tapped his shoulder. "There's nothing wrong with that. Look what you built for yourself anyway." I nudged him again and reminded him, "Hey, you're only fifteen. It's not set in stone, you know?" I nudged him with my elbow again, harder this time. "I'm only fifteen too. I'm not going anywhere any time soon."

I had an idea. "Hey, want to go to the strawberry fields?"

"It's after midnight."

"No more rules, Nico. Let's just go for the things we want." I grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him after me.

I took him back to the infirmary instead. He panicked at the door. "No Will, I can't." I kept a tight grip on his wrist, assuring him he could. I'd shown him it didn't have to be a scary place once and I could do it again.

I brought him to the day room and started piling blankets on the sofa. Nico picked up a towel off the back of a chair and looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. What movie should I put on?

I glanced at the clock. The broken display would have said it was twenty past four, if the zero hadn't been knocked loose. On the table there was a magazine with a Ford Angelina on the cover.

Now you're just messing with me, dad.

I took the copy of Hitchhikers off the shelf it had been collecting dust on and threw caution to the wind.