Sorry again. I actually had this mostly written for a while, but then I got distracted by another idea. Anyway, here it is.
Stoick led the way to Hiccup's room.
He'd left Astrid alone in the waiting area to see if his son was awake. He'd returned soon after checking that Hiccup wanted the company and she'd had to quickly scrub away the tears that had managed to escape before she got herself under control.
Stoick paused by the door.
"I'm going to get something to eat," he told the girl. "You'll stay here 'til I return?"
Astrid nodded and stepped over the threshold.
The room was bathed in orange light from the setting sun outside the window, but the harsh white of the lamp above the bed washed out all of Hiccup's features.
His eyes were closed. There was a bruise above his left eye and scrapes down the side of his face. The tubing of his nasal cannula snaked over Hiccup's cheeks and tucked behind his ears. He looked so pale and small, in his light blue hospital gown. The sheets were tucked in around his waist with his hands resting on top.
The poles beside the bed held a mass of IV bags, the tubing was taped to Hiccup's arms, delivering the different medications he needed.
Astrid let her eyes drift further down towards Hiccups feet. Foot. It was obvious to look at, even with the blanket's covering his legs. The left one just stopped mid-shin.
Her eyes stung and her vision blurred. Astrid took a deep, steadying breath.
Hiccup stirred, moaning softly as he surfaced from sleep.
Astrid took a seat on the chair beside the bed. She took his hand gingerly, afraid of jarring the tubes running into the back of his hand.
Bleary eyes opened.
"Hey," Astrid whispered, she gave Hiccup's fingers a gentle squeeze. His gaze fell on her and his eyes slowly focused. Recognition lit his face.
"'strid?" His brows knit together in confusion. "Where?"
"You're in hospital. Do you remember what happened?"
Hiccup shook his head, groaning at the movement. His left hand rose slowly to tug at the plastic under his nose. Astrid took his hand and placed it back down on the bed.
"You should leave that," she told him.
He blinked owlishly and his eyes drifted shut.
Astrid spun in her chair at the soft tap of footsteps behind her.
"Don't worry," it was a nurse. "Just a routine check-up." She bustled around to the other side of the bed. Recognising Astrid, she said, "You were the one sitting out in the waiting room all afternoon."
Astrid nodded, hoping she wasn't about to get kicked out.
"Uh, Stoick asked me to watch him while he got something to eat." She caught a glimpse of the nurse's name tag. It read Lucy.
"I'm glad he finally left the room," Lucy confided in the young woman. "He needs to take care of himself for Henry's sake." She pressed a button on one of the machines beside the bed, then checked the IV bags. Hiccup was stirring again but didn't quite surface.
"He'll be in and out for a bit yet." Lucy straightened the sheets. "Over the next few hours he'll become more alert, but don't be concerned if he doesn't remember this."
Astrid watched as the nurse went through her routine. She had to ask. "His leg-"
"How much did Mr Haddock tell you?"
"Not much, just that… they had to amputate." Astrid's gaze drifted down again.
A shadow fell across the bed. Stoick had returned.
Lucy looked to him for permission. He gave it.
"Henry's leg was badly injured. The tibia was badly broken and he had third degree burns to his leg and foot," she explained. "Infection set in and he had no blood circulation to the foot. He had surgery this morning to see if any of the damage could be repaired, but- the surgeons had to amputate." Lucy had finished her examination.
"The doctors say he'll be fitted for a prosthetic once he's up and about," Stoick came over and sat carefully on the edge of the bed. He rested his hand on his son's right foot.
"It won't be easy," Lucy pulled a pen from her pocket, jotting down some notes on Hiccup's chart.
"Hiccup has never done anything the easy way." Stoick chuckled. It felt out of place in the room, but Astrid figured if Stoick could laugh, it must mean that Hiccup would be alright.
()
"Good morning M'lady."
A scratchy voice drew Astrid's attention back to the bed. She smiled. "It's almost eight pm." She'd been sitting in the small room with Stoick for almost three hours.
They had sat together in silence at first, and then Stoick had started telling her stories of Hiccup's childhood. Astrid found it hard to connect the father in front of her with the father Hiccup had complained about at work.
In front of her was a father who loved his son, who wanted the best for him, but who was perhaps a little misguided in his attempts to show it.
It made Astrid think of her own parents and the little annoying things they did. She knew they only meant the best for her and in that moment she missed them. When had she called them last? Astrid couldn't remember.
While they were talking, Hiccup had woken a few times. His bleary eyes had landed on Astrid a couple of times and he'd frowned in confusion before sleep pulled him back under.
"What-" He shifted his head, catching sight of the infusion pump and the monitor by the bed. He lifted his hand, and stared at it groggily, struggling to put the pieces together. "H-hospital?"
Both Astrid and Stoick were leaning forward on their chairs.
"You gave me quite the scare son." Stoick reached out to grab Hiccup's hand, preventing the younger Haddock from scratching at the tape holding the IV in place.
The boy scrunched his face up, trying to remember what happened.
"I don't-" His gaze shifted to Astrid. "…remember." He scratched at the thing irritating his nose. More plastic. "What happened?"
"I-uh," Astrid glanced at Stoick. "There was a fire. At the aquarium." She waited
"Toothless? Is he okay?" Hiccup's eyes were wide as he looked from his father to Astrid.
"Toothless is okay," Astrid tried to reassure him. "Everyone is okay."
"You need to take it easy," Stoick soothed. "The nurses said it might take a while for you to remember everything."
Hiccup tried to push himself up, grimacing at the movement. He groaned.
"What's wrong?" Stoick was already reaching for the nurse call button. "Are you in pain son?"
Hiccup nodded, his teeth clenched against the agony. "My leg," he managed to gasp out. "Oh Gods, it hurts so bad." He managed to get into a sitting position, reaching forward to clutch at his knee.
"Hiccup, wait."
Clawed fingers edged down towards the source of the pain. Hiccup could feel the swell of bandages beneath the blankets. His foot was on fire! He could feel it burning.
Stoick grabbed his hands to stop their journey down the limb. Astrid watched on in shock.
"Let go of me," Hiccup yelled at his father. "Gods, it hurts. It hurts!" Hands scrabbled against the blankets, ripping them off. He stared at his legs, shoulders shaking.
"No." he fingered the bandages on his leg. "I don't- I can feel it."
Lucy ran in, having heard the yelling. She made her way over to the bed, pressing another button on the wall. "Henry, you need to calm down." She rubbed soothing circles on his back. "We'll get you something for the pain."
Another nurse came in.
Astrid stepped back to allow them access to the bed. She edged up against the wall.
"I don't understand." Hiccup was hyperventilating. "I can feel it." He groaned. "It's burning!"
Something was injected into his IV port and slowly he settled down onto the bed, the sedative was designed to relax rather than put Hiccup to sleep. Lucy informed Stoick that the doctor was on the way. He caught sight of Astrid standing up the back of the room.
"Astrid, can you give us a moment?"
"I, uh, sure." Astrid backed out of the room.
()
Astrid wandered away from the room following the signs to the cafeteria. What was she doing here? Hiccup was in the most vulnerable position a person could be in. Injured, confused, trying to process what was going on and here Astrid was, thinking she belonged because she had kissed him a couple of times.
He was going to be okay. Maybe it would be best for her to go back to Berk or at least go find a hotel for the night. Astrid didn't feel up to the long drive home.
She turned abruptly as she reached the café, heading instead for the exit. She'd find somewhere to spend the night and head back to Berk in the morning.
Reaching her car, she climbed inside and retrieved her phone from her bag to find a hostel. With just a few clicks she had somewhere to stay for the night.
Astrid started her car and drove away.
()
When Astrid woke, there was a text message on her phone.
Hey, its Hiccup. Can we talk?
Astrid didn't recognise the number. She figured Hiccup had borrowed his Dad's phone. Quickly she showered and changed, checked out of the hostel and headed back to the hospital.
She walked through the long corridor slowly, second guessing her decision to visit. She could have just called Hiccup after reading the text. Astrid found the room easily, pausing at the threshold to peek inside.
The head of the bed was raised. Hiccup was reclining against it with his eyes closed in a half doze. They sprung open when he heard the tentative knock on the door.
He smiled when he realised it was Astrid. Waving a lethargic arm inviting her in. He was alone in the room.
"Hey." Astrid sat by the bed.
"Hey." Hiccup awkwardly rearranged his blankets. "Thanks for, uh, coming."
"How are you feeling?" He looked… better. He was awake so that was a definite improvement but he was still so pale. His freckles stood out in stark relief against his skin.
Hiccup shrugged, scratching lazily at a piece of tape on his hand. "Tired, but… okay, I guess."
"How's your… leg?"
Hiccup glanced down towards his legs. He took a steadying breath then pulled the sheets aside. His skinny legs stuck out from under the hospital gown. Astrid made a mental note to ask Stoick about pyjamas.
"I-I keep thinking that next time I look…" he trailed off. "But, it's not there. It's gone."
"I'm sorry Hiccup." Astrid covered Hiccup's hand with her own.
"Why?" Hiccup turned his hand over so that he could hold Astrid's lightly. He gave her a reassuring squeeze. "It's not your fault." His expression turned sour. "I was the one who had to go and anger one of the most dangerous men in Berk. If I'd just kept my mouth shut."
"You think Drago did it?" Astrid was frowning too.
"I doubt Drago would dirty his hands over something like this," Hiccup scowled. "But I think I recognised one of his men."
"You remember what happened?"
"It's coming back to me." Hiccup pulled the sheets back over his legs.
There was no traffic at this time of night. The wind felt good on his bare arms. Hiccup squinted into the distance. There was something coming towards him. A car. Black with no headlights speeding in the opposite direction. Hiccup frowned and slowed down but the car sped past without incident. Hiccup slowed further and pulled to the side of the road. There was an odd smell to the air. A jarring mix of saltwater and smoke. But there was nothing out here. Just the aquarium.
Hiccup put his bike in gear, pulling back onto the road. He raced towards the aquarium.
The side gate was flung open, Hiccup didn't even get off his bike, riding it straight up the path. The clinic was alight. Hiccup dropped his motorbike and ran. There were cries from the animals in their pens as they panicked. Smoke was beginning to clog the air.
The place was a mess. Windows smashed. Shelves overturned. Who had done this? Hiccup didn't have time to wonder.
He cursed, remembering he still hadn't replaced his mobile phone. Pausing, he turned towards the smaller building. There was a phone in the office.
Hiccup ran, pulling the neck of his shirt up over his nose and mouth against the choking smell of smoke that was filling the building. He grabbed the received on the desk.
"Come on, come on, come on." There was a dial tone. He punched the numbers in.
"911, what's your emergency?"
"Fire." Hiccup coughed. "Aquarium. Hurry."
There was a loud thud from outside. Hiccup spun on his feet. The office door had swung shut. He dropped the phone, ignoring the tinny demands for more information.
A glance out the window showed a stack of shelves pushed up against the door. How? Was someone else still here?
Hiccup shoved his shoulder against the door. It didn't budge. The shelving on the other side had wedged it completely shut.
He considered his options. There weren't many. Smoke was pouring into the small room under the door to the clinic.
Using the basic fire safety skills from primary school, Hiccup went to the clinic door and gingerly pressed the back of his hand to the handle, tearing it away when the metal burned his skin.
"Okay, not that way." His shirt wasn't doing much to keep the smoke at bay. Hiccup let the material settle back on his chest. Searching the room, Hiccup's gaze landed on the large windows that faced out towards the pools.
Moving quickly, Hiccup went to the desk. He picked up the chair that sat there and threw it against the glass. There was a resounding crash as the window exploded outwards. Hiccup lunged for the empty pane, gagging at the smell of the smoke. His lungs were burning. He had to get out.
A shadow appeared at the window. A figure he recognised. Hiccup frowned, blinking against the stinging of his eyes. Something swung out. Hiccup ducked too late.
Pain exploded from his temple. Dizzy, he stumbled back, hitting the wall and sliding to the ground. The roof was groaning as the fire spread.
Blind from the smoke, Hiccup crawled forward.
The building was shaking. An earthquake? No, Berk didn't get earthquakes. The sound of thunder. The sky was falling. Hiccup felt the snap as something large and unbearably heavy landed on his legs. He screamed out at the pain, his arms collapsing beneath him. He fell to his stomach.
Twisting, Hiccup tried to pull himself free. White starbursts of pain danced across his vision. He was trapped. The wall had caved in, catching his legs. It was burning, the fire licking up his legs.
Hiccup dragged in another lungful of smoke. Coughing and choking. His vision was dimming around the edges. He struggled to focus.
He was numb. The fire a distant sensation. His lungs weren't cooperating. He couldn't catch his breath.
His eyes drifted shut.