A Purpose Found
Pairing; TroyXHayden(ToothlessXHiccup)
Rating; M for Mature
Disclaimer; I do not own anything HTTYD related! Or any songs I may or may not use!
Thirty-Six:
{Troy's POV}
(Friday, July 16, 2021-6:15 pm)
[Berk; Raseri Home]
I was beginning to get a little concerned as to why my boyfriend wasn't home yet. I knew he only worked until 4 pm, and it's now, almost 6:30; an hour late. Why that? Because I know that it takes Hayden an hour to get from Archia Isle to Berk, then ten-fifteen minutes to get to my parents' house. So I hadn't considered him late until 5:15 pm, and here we are at 6:15, and nothing. I had sent Hayden a text at 4 pm, telling him to come right home because we needed to talk. It was nothing bad, but it was a serious matter. See, I've been planning something big since the start of July, and I saw no better time to set things in motion that tonight; our two-year dating anniversary. The fun part is that I had everyone involved, even Avery. Yes, what she did to Hayden pissed me off, but this is a big event and as far as I knew; Hayden still saw Avery as a friend since he didn't make a final decision on forgiving her or not. I assumed this meant they were friends unless Hayden said otherwise, and as promised; I would tolerate her for his sake.
"Nervous, son?" Dustin asked as I looked at my father.
"A little," I admitted.
"I'm sure it will be fine. Calm down a bit," Cole chuckled as his girlfriend, Rosanna was beside him, smiling. Rosanna was now seven months along, and it's been revealed that I will have a niece in September. Rosanna and Cole are having a little girl. The two had not yet decided on a name for her, but I'm sure it would be chosen by the time Rosanna gave birth. Rosanna's parents; Erica and Gerald Falk were letting Rosanna live at home until she graduated High School, then it was up to her to figure out a living arrangement, which as far as I knew; my parents have already said she is more than welcome to come live with us.
"I can't help it, Dad. Hayden has seemed kind of down lately, but he won't say what's wrong," I sighed.
"All you can do in this situation is remind him that you're here for him, and I'm sure when he's ready to talk about it; he'll come to you," Gabriel smiled. I had Gabriel, Spencer, and Vivian here too. At the moment, we were all out on the back porch enjoying some beverages and snacks. My dad would start cooking the burgers and hot dogs when Hayden arrived if he ever got here.
"You think he'll say yes?" Fisher inquired. That's right; I set all this up to ask Hayden if he'll marry me. That's why I'm ridiculously nervous right now. I've spent the last week finding the perfect ring and planning this entire get together just to ask Hayden's hand in marriage.
"I hope so, but even if he says no; that's fine. I can wait until he's ready for marriage," I said. I rechecked my phone. Hayden saw my message at 4:04 pm, but he never replied, and he's wicked late. I didn't like it, something felt wrong.
"Troy, try to relax," Vivian offered.
"It's not that, Mrs. Haddock. I'm nervous to propose, yes, but I'm worried as to why he's not back yet," I closed my eyes.
"Text him?" Rylee suggested.
"I did at four; told him to come right home. Phone says he read it, but never replied," I informed.
"Try calling him? Maybe he got held up at work?" Cole offered. I suppose it was worth a shot. I dialed Hayden's cell phone; it rang six times, then went to voicemail. I tried again and got the same result.
"No answer on the cell," I said.
"Last minute meeting?" Dustin suggested.
"This late?" Rachel blinked.
"If it was something big, yeah," I nodded.
"Does he have an office phone?" Spencer asked.
"I believe so," I nodded, then pulled that number up and tried calling again. Same thing; five or six rings, then voicemail. Alright, I was entirely convinced that something was wrong. Hayden wasn't answering his cell phone, or the work line. "Still nothing,"
"Why are you so worried? Maybe his cell died?" Shane shrugged.
"If it had gone right to voicemail, I might be inclined to believe that," I mumbled. "I'm worried because it's not like Hayden to be over an hour late when he takes the same route home every single day except the weekends, and he would have told me if his phone was dying. Also, that doesn't matter because Hayden carries a portable charger on him. It doesn't make sense…And I don't like it. Something is wrong,"
"What do you mean?" Tyler questioned.
"I just…Feel it, okay?" I said firmly. "I'm not like Hayden with the uncanny ability for gut instinct on anything, but I know when something isn't right involving him specifically," I got my phone and dialed a different number now, then set it on speakerphone.
"Who are you calling now?" Drew wondered. I put a finger to my lips as it connected.
"Alpha Company,"
"May I speak with Commander Donovan Bludvist, please?" I asked.
"One moment, please," the voice said, then I got put on hold.
"What are you doing?" Avery inquired softly.
"Finding my boyfriend," I said as I heard a pickup.
"Commander Bludvist here," Donovan's voice came through.
"Commander, it's Staff Sergeant Raseri," I said.
"Ah, what can I do for you, Sergeant Raseri?" Donovan said.
"Is Second Lieutenant Hayden Haddock there?" I questioned.
"Lieutenant Haddock was only scheduled to work until 1600 hours, Sergeant," Donovan informed.
"I understand that sir, but could you please check?" I remarked.
"Hmm. Perhaps a transportation delay at the Archia Isle transport building? It's not like Haddock to be late for anything." Donovan said.
"Which is why I'm calling to ask if he's still on the base, Commander Bludvist," I replied.
"Give me a moment, and I will see," Donovan stated. It was silent a few minutes, then Donovan lifted the phone once more and cleared his throat. "I've just checked the punches for Lieutenant Haddock, and this says he punched out at 1608. I'm sure he's on his way, Sergeant,"
"The problem, Commander, is that Hayden takes the same bus from the base to the transportation center to catch the 4:20 pm ferry to Berk, then once here, another ten minutes to get home. Typically; it's 5:20-5:30 pm when we walk through the door. It's now 6:35 pm, and he's not here," I sighed.
"I do not see the problem. As I said; perhaps a delay. Why don't you call h-," Donovan began.
"I have tried calling him, Commander; his cell phone and office. It rings six times, then goes to voicemail, so I know his phone isn't dead. I'll try phoning the Berk and Archia Isle centers to see if he's used his transportation pass," I said.
"Sergeant, one quick question," Donovan paused.
"Yes, sir?" I replied.
"How's Haddock been since getting home from the tour? And I already know he has PTSD, but his report doesn't say he has a severe case," Donovan asked. "PTSD cases can vary over time. You two have only been back for five months and what was reported then in evaluation could have changed with more time as someone tries to adjust to being out of a war situation. I need to make sure that his case hasn't gotten worse. I need to know, Raseri so I can determine to launch a search for him. Don't hold back information to protect him."
I bit my bottom lip. Fuck! How could I have not considered that as the first thing that could be wrong? I just said it earlier that he's been upset lately! Hayden started with nightmares, but I've noticed that he gets a little flinchy to loud sounds and bright lights. I couldn't keep that from the commander; this could be bad if Hayden has been suffering all this time and finally snapped primarily because he does have a history of depression.
"Nightmares about the deaths of Privates Kody Nyght and Sonny Stones; he wakes up sweating and panting, and always has to turn the light on to look around. Hayden flinches at loud sounds that are close to bombs, horns, and gunshots. Closes his eyes at bright, flashing lights," I revealed.
"How long do the episodes last, and how many months has this been happening?" Donovan asked in a severe tone.
"Never more than a minute or two, sir," I informed. "Nightmares since we got home, but the other things didn't start until April or so," I added.
"I hate having to ask it, but I feel you know what I'm going to say," Donovan hinted.
"No, and he's never been alone when he goes through all that stuff," I sighed.
"The part that concerns me is that you're not with him now. Hayden's punch shows he clocked out at 1608, and it's now 1843 with no sign of him or contact made. Call Archia Isle and Berk transportation offices; find out if he used his pass. Get me times, and we can use that to at least get a location to start searching," Donovan ordered.
"Aye, Commander," I replied, then ended the called.
"What…Did all that mean?" Vivian asked, though, very afraid of the answer. I didn't respond as I put the phone to my ear.
"Yo, what's up Troy?" came a male voice.
"Hi, Harv. Got a question. Did you take the bus from the base tonight?"
"Always do with everyone else to get to the transportation center for our ferries home. Why?"
"Was Hayden with the rest of Inferno?" I asked.
"Yep. Hayden was with Chelsea and I on the 4:20 ferry going to Berk, Hysteria and Bog-Burglar Islands. Hayden got off at Berk around 5:15,"
"Was he okay?" I inquired.
"Well, know that you mention it; he did seem off in his own little world, and looked a little upset. We asked if he was alright and he said it was personal and not to worry. What's going on, Troy?"
"Hayden isn't home yet, and Bludvist is worried that his minor case of PTSD got worse," I said.
"Oh, shit. Bludvist calling in a search?"
"That's why he wants me to find out where Hayden was last seen. I'll call you later and update you. Oh, and don't say anything to anyone until we know what's going on," I stated.
"Aye, sir, Sergeant Raseri. Hope everything is alright,"
I hung up after that sighed. "And to answer your question, Mrs. Haddock. All this going on means that Hayden's PTSD or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder may have gotten worse to a point the reason no one can find him is that he's having a break down where he might try to hurt himself or someone else. If cases are severe enough; the case could end up being Hayden kills himself to get away from remembering everything that happened overseas. One of the privates was shot twice, and Hayden saw that happened; ended up having to carry his body to extraction. And another warrior basically died in his arms on the chopper. That kind of stuff takes its toll and can make readjusting to normal life after war incredibly tricky. It…haunts him as nightmares. Fireworks, loud horns and that kind of thing take his mind back to Syria, and he relives it. It's like his brain is there, but his body is here. If that makes sense,"
"What Troy is trying to say is that Hayden could be suffering and we never knew. Situations like these, the military worries that if the PTSD worsened from its initial diagnosis that Hayden could begin feeling like killing himself is the only way to make it stop. Unfortunately, Hayden does have depression because of what happened in 2018, and that doesn't ever honestly go away. Everything piling up at once can drive a person to not think clearly and make a hasty decision," Rachel informed.
"And he's been feeling down lately because of everything else too," I raked my hands through my hair.
"Son, deep breaths now; you panicking isn't going to solve anything," Dustin reminded.
"And what do you mean everything else?" Hailey wondered.
"Hayden started feeling a little…rejected and abandoned by all of you the last couple of months. I guess most of May; you kept canceling plans to hang out, but when he and I would do something together, we saw you guys with Avery. Oh, and something from February…No one except the people in my family wished him a happy birthday…" I looked at them.
"Oh, fuck…That's right. The 29th didn't come this year," Shane winced. "Oops,"
"I didn't know we were hurting him by canceling the plans. We just…figured he wouldn't want to be around Avery right now, and we knew he was mourning since I'm sure he couldn't do much of that overseas," Fisher frowned.
"God…Damn it! I should have seen how upset he was getting," I stared at the sky, frustrated.
"We'll find him, Troy. Your friend said he's in Berk, so I'm sure he's not far. I can get the department on it as a top priority," Dustin offered.
"Does he have anything he could hurt or kill himself with?" Cole inquired.
"Weapons can't be taken off the base," Spencer informed.
"Enlistees can't, but officers are permitted to carry their guns. So yes, Mom; he does," I replied.
"Dustin, make the call," Rachel told her husband. If Hayden was depressed and wanting to kill himself; he would go to a place he loved to die feeling peaceful. Suddenly, it hit me.
"Wait, Dad. Don't," I stopped my father just as he was about to dial out. "I think I know where he is," I said before hurrying inside to grab my keys. I knew they would follow in curiosity, but I didn't care. My primary mission was to get to Hayden, and pray to the Gods that I wasn't too late.