No Matter What

Rated: M

Pairings: Hiccup X Astrid

Disclaimer; I do not own How To Train Your Dragon, but I do own the rights to my OC characters!

Chapter Ten

=Hiccup's POV=

{November 26, 2010-Camp Nox}

It had not been easy to tell my Gobber, father, and girlfriend that I was deploying to Afghanistan. My father and Gobber were shocked to learn of the news, but Camicazi got scared, and pleaded me not to go. However, there were no changing these orders. I was set to leave for my first tour of duty August 9, 2010; the day after Camicazi's 18th birthday, and our three-year dating anniversary of being in a relationship. I informed dad and Gobber that night after Cami's High School graduation since she had to go to a family related celebration for it. The next day during the party she had with friends, I told her about the deployment, and I did not like seeing her cling to me in tears while pleading for it not to be true. I did what I could to ease her fears, and spent as much time as I could with her before the fateful day in August. The night before I left, I took Cami on an all-day date; breakfast at 8 am, the Summer festival for 10:30 am, and won a couple prizes for her, we rode on the rides, and had lunch there too. For the evening, I took her to see a movie, then out to dinner afterward.

Of course, once at my house when all that was over; I let Camicazi spend the night and I was up at 3:00 am after going to bed only three hours before that. By 7:30 am, we, as in me and the battalion was in the sky heading to Camp Nox in the Helmand Province's Lashkar-Gah of Afghanistan. Since that day it had been three months on the 9th of November, and today was the 26th; Thanksgiving in the year 2010. Right now, it's 8:30 am for me, but only 4:00 am back home, so I wasn't going to call just yet. Hopefully, the wifi would hold so I could contact them this morning and later tonight during dinner. I didn't have a laptop, but I had my phone and tablet with me, and both chargers even though they used the same one. It never hurt to have a spare, right? Yep, so there was four-hour and thirty-minute time difference between Afghanistan and Archian State. The barracks here are a lot like home, which were capable of holding an entire platoon. This camp was very organized, and a central base for us; we had others around as support ones. Each station had a medical area too, but the main ones had support hospitals.

Everything here was like living in the stone age except that we had electricity and internet. Our bathrooms were porta-potties which were all around camp, and the showers were a shipping crate with a water heater; there were a few of those in each sector too. The porta-potties were placed inside these little cabins; four in a row on the of our metal barracks, and then there was the crate with six stalls for showering. Each spot was separated by a shower curtain, and you had time to get in, get wet, wash hair and body, rinse, then get out. There were timers and it was a quarter for every five minutes in there. Getting changed was not a huge deal as we were all males, and after Basic and SOI, you got used to seeing one another naked. Still, though, a lot of the men would help one another out by holding up a towel or blanket as a shield.

The only difference in how we slept in these barracks as opposed to the ones from training was that we didn't have bunk beds with a storage chest at the end. No, these were single cots with a metal locker to the left of them. There were four windows and two overhead fans. There were two air conditioners; one at the back of the barrack, and another towards the front. Other places at Camp Nox was the central operations building, the chow hall, and as I mentioned, medical areas, and a hospital near the C.O.H(Central Operations Hub). Camp Nox was a base that housed a Corps, and this means that there are almost nine-thousand military forces present here. Me, I'm with my battalion, led by Lieutenant Colonel Henrik Andersen.

My average day here varied as sometimes we were running missions or pushing back enemy forces. Our downtime consisted of sitting around the barrack, occasionally flying our dragons too; that was a day thing, but on occasion we could fly at night. Toothless and I were experts at night missions because I had a specially made combat uniform and hat with black and gray patterns, also black boots to fly Toothless since we blended in with the sky. It was the perfect cover and these uniforms were only issues to dragon riders with dark-colored dragons. At the moment, I just finished breakfast with the guys, and I honestly wasn't feeling all that good. It started last night, a headache and a little exhaustion; I thought nothing of it at first until I woke up slowly this morning feeling like I might puke. I took a hot shower, and that seemed to help. However, now that I've eaten something, I was feeling worse.

"Hiccup, you alright man?" Eret's voice dragged me out of my thoughts.

"Hm? Yeah, I'm okay," I responded to him.

"Are you sure?" Cody inquired.

"You're not looking like you are," Ere nodded in agreement.

"Guys, I'm fine, okay? I just didn't sleep all that great," I stated. This wasn't untrue; I really hadn't. And now the feeling like I have to throw up is coming back. Just what I didn't need. I felt it rise, then I forced it back. Maybe I just needed to get more sleep; as far as I know, we didn't have any missions, patrols, or guards tonight since we did one yesterday for sixteen hours. "Catch ya later," I told them as I got up and left the chow hall. Reaching the barrack, I took off my uniform coat and hat, laid them across the trunk at the foot of my bed, then I laid down and hoped I'd get some sleep.

=Normal POV=

{Later That Night-9 pm}

Hiccup slept through lunch and almost to dinner, only getting up a few times to use the bathroom or have a drink of water. However, Eret, Cody, and Thuggory could tell that he was tired because he'd always get right back into bed, then fell asleep within fifteen minutes.

"Think he might be sick?" Cody asked.

"It's possible. People who don't feel well tend to sleep more," Thuggory replied. Ryker walked in and over to the group, seeing that Hiccup was sleeping.

"Catching up on his sleep?" Ryker asked.

"We don't know, sir. Hiccup left breakfast after eating, saying he didn't sleep well last night, but he's been out almost all day. We've only seen him get up to use the bathroom or get a drink," Eret informed.

"He slept through lunch, and dinner," Cody mentioned. Ryker leaned over and tapped Hiccup a few times to wake him. Hiccup shifted a little before he opened his eyes to see Ryker there. Hiccup sat up slowly and looked at him.

"What time is it?" Hiccup groaned a bit.

"2100, Corporal. Want to tell me why you've been sleeping all day, and skipped two meals?" Ryker stated.

"I wasn't feeling well after breakfast, so I came back here to rest and see if it helped any," Hiccup admitted.

"I see. And has it helped at all?" Ryker wondered.

"No, not really," Hiccup revealed. "Perhaps gotten worse," he added.

"How so?" Viggo's voice asked as he walked in. "I sent Ryker to find you because we were going to see if you and your team would do a recon tonight. However, seeing as you are feeling ill, I'll task someone else with the mission,"

"Started with a headache and exhaustion last night; I passed it off as needing sleep because of the sixteen-hour guard last night. I felt better after waking up, but when breakfast was over, my stomach started bothering me. I came back here to rest," Hiccup informed.

"And how are you feeling now?" Ryker questioned.

"Worse. A headache, stomachache, tired, no appetite," Hiccup listed off.

Thuggory checked his forehead with a hand. "He's a little warm too," Thuggory interjected.

"Have you thrown up at all?" Viggo inquired.

"Couple times before lunch," Hiccup nodded. "I feel nauseous, but it doesn't always make me want to puke,"

"Alright. Lay back down and keep resting. You boys keep an eye on him, and if the vomiting gets worse or the fever rises, take him to the TMC to be checked out, and inform us," Viggo stated.

"Got it, Major," Thuggory, Eret, and Cody replied with a salute. Viggo and Ryker left after Hiccup laid down on the bed and closed his eyes. Hiccup sat up again and checked his watch before getting his cell phone.

"The Major just told you to rest," Cody sighed.

"I will. I just gotta…call home first to wish Dad, Gobber, and Cami a Happy Thanksgiving," Hiccup replied as he logged into Skype, and clicked his father's name.

~Hey, son! I'm so glad you could call.~ Stoick answered.

"Hi, Dad," Hiccup smiled a bit.

~You look terrible, laddie.~ Gobber remarked.

Hiccup shrugged it off knowing Gobber was there too. It made sense, after Valka died, Gobber, Stoick, and Hiccup were never apart. "I'm just a little sick, Gobber," Hiccup said.

~Any idea what it is?~ Stoick wondered.

"Probably a twenty-four thing, maybe longer. I don't know, but I'm okay. I've been staying in bed, Dad. I just wanted to call and say Happy Thanksgiving to you and Gobber," Hiccup said.

~Thank you, son. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your comrades too. We won't keep ya long, and feel better soon. Stay on the water.~ Stoick reminded.

"I will, Dad. Don't worry," Hiccup replied. "I love you,"

~We love you too, Hiccup. Talk to you when you're better.~ Gobber responded. Hiccup nodded as he ended the call, smiling a little. It did make him feel somewhat better to get to talk to them, especially on holidays like these where he couldn't be home with them. Hiccup messaged Camicazi to make sure she wasn't in the middle of dinner since it was about 4:30 pm Archian State time.

[Yes, you can absolutely call, baby!] Was Cami's reply message. Hiccup chuckled a little as he pressed the icon to call her, then waited for it to connect, which took a few extra seconds.

~Hiccup! I'm so glad you could call!~ Camicazi greeted.

"Hello, Milady. And what made you think I wouldn't? It is Thanksgiving after all," Hiccup told her.

~I know, but you've been so busy that last few months. And sometimes you can go a week without making contact.~ Cami countered.

"I'm sorry about that, babe. Everything was so crazy when we arrived; having to adjust and what not. We do get a little preoccupied with work over here. I do my best to make time, and even then, if the signal is crappy then I can't get a call through," Hiccup explained.

~Well, at least we have letters and instant message, right? How is Thanksgiving going for you?~ Camicazi asked with a smile.

"Unfortunately, I skipped lunch and dinner, beautiful. I've been feeling a bit sick since breakfast, and have been resting all day," Hiccup informed.

~Aw, my poor Hiccup. If you were home, I'd take care of you.~ Camicazi frowned.

"I know you would. You are helping; my dreams of you make it easier to sleep." Hiccup said as Camicazi blushed a little. "How are you enjoying the holiday?"

~Better now that I've gotten to see you.~ Camicazi enlightened.

"I'm glad I could help then. I really miss you," Hiccup stated. "When I come home for leave, I'm kidnapping you for a week just to hold you,"

~I miss you too, Hiccup. And I have no objections to that kidnapping. Any word on when you might get leave?~ Cami inquired.

"Well, I've only been here three months. I doubt I'll get it anytime soon; probably around the half-way mark. Until then, we have Skype," Hiccup reminded.

~It still sucks, but you're right and I can deal with it. Have you talked to your dad? He sent me a text earlier from him and Gobber; wishing my family and me a Happy Thanksgiving.~ Camicazi said.

"I talked to him and Gobber before I called you," Hiccup nodded as he yawned once, then closed his eyes to fight back throwing up.

~I saw that, babe. You need to get more rest, and then we can talk more when you're up for it.~ Cami ordered him.

"You're the best, Cami. I don't know what I'd do with you, and it means the world to me that you stand by me in everything I do. Especially this military stuff," Hiccup told her as she smiled at him.

~It's because I love you. Go lay down, Hic. I hope you feel better soon.~ Camicazi told him gently.

"Alright. I'm sure I will, babe. I love you too. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family," Hiccup stated. After that, the call ended and Hiccup put the phone beside him to charge. Hiccup smiled while thinking about Camicazi; he truly loved her, and knew that when he got off this tour, he was going to make sure she and everyone else knew it too. When Hiccup got home from Afghanistan, he and Cami will have been together four years, and as soon as he got back; he was going to ask for her hand in marriage. Hiccup laid down and fell asleep with that thought and planning just exactly how he'd pull off the perfect proposal.