Thirty Six

I woke when Hiccup tried to turn over, fell out of bed and dragged the covers off completely. I groaned and unsympathetically tried to haul them back on while he floundered on the floor. It didn't work because he was completely tangled in the sheets so I sighed and sat up.

"Hogging the blankets already, I see," I commented dryly.

"Maybe you should get a double," he shot back.

"Hey, Dragon Boy-at least wait until we've been dating a week before moving in with me!" I teased him. He lay back and paused.

"So…five days to pack, eh?" he murmured with a smile. I threw a pillow at him.

"You're not that cute, Dragon Boy!" I scoffed. He sat up at gave me his best puppy eyes.

"Aren't I?" he asked with a smirk. He really did have stunning green eyes and when he wasn't totally angst-ridden, he was pretty damned hot. But the sight of a grown man making puppy eyes at me just made me burst out laughing and he joined in, collapsing forward. "Okay, I surrender," he chuckled, then ran his fingers through his auburn hair-not only messy but now officially wild. Then he offered me a hand. I caught it and he pulled me close and pressed a light kiss on my lips. "And good morning, Milady."

"Morning, babe," I murmured. It was actually a pretty nice way to start the morning. I glanced at my com: it was time to get up anyway. "I suppose we ought to make a move…" His fingers gently stroked across mine as he continued to hold my hand. He looked serious.

"I really am sorry," he sighed. "I was utterly Useless yesterday." I shook my head.

"No-you were still pretty awesome in uncovering the traitors and fighting Dagur and Dogsbreath," I commented, "but you weren't thinking straight and that is dangerous." He nodded.

"You said something that I really need to act on," he admitted. He slowly got to his knees. "'Man up or stand down'. My father is in a coma. My Uncle is dead. Gobber hates command. Gothi has never commanded except in the infirmary. And I have the next highest rank. So, like it or not, I have to step forward and keep the Base going." He winced as he got to his foot, then strapped his prosthesis on. "I'll be back in half an hour, if you want breakfast?" I nodded. "And wear your uniform: we need to demonstrate that everything is normal." I smiled.

"Yessir!" I grinned and ripped off a textbook salute as he limped to the door and turned back to me for a second.

"Astrid? Thanks," he said as he left.

He collected me bang on time-and he was showered, shaved and his hair was as neat as it could manage-still choppy and a little wild. He looked pretty neat-I suspected he was in his best clothes-skinny black jeans, dark green button-down shirt, black waistcoat, black boot-and I felt underdressed in my uniform. But he grinned and chivalrously offered me his arm, which I accepted with a smile and he walked me down to breakfast.

The other Riders were there, subdued at the loss of another of their number and I could feel the impact of low morale on their group. The twins were talking normally, not bickering and even Bucket and Mulch seemed to have lost their good humour. Fishlegs looked on the verge of tears. Hiccup insisted we sat with them and we slid in at the end of the table, nodding to them and tucking into our meals with gusto. I passed Hiccup my toast and he grinned and bit in, nodding thanks as I concentrated on my eggs and bacon. The other riders were looking frankly disappointed that we appeared to have patched up our differences: a soap opera would have been much more amusing, I guessed. Hiccup patted my arm and then rose and limped to a solitary figure sitting to one side of the Mess, toying with a plate piled high with an untouched breakfast.

I watched Hiccup quietly sit down opposite his cousin and speak quietly and calmly. Snotlout was by turns snarky, angry and sad and throughout, Hiccup was calm and passive, allowing his cousin to exhaust his emotions on him, pour out his feelings to someone who could possibly understand. Finally, he leaned forward and stared into his eyes. He spoke for a couple of minutes, quiet words I didn't pick up but which made Snotlout stare at him, wide-eyed. And then he nodded.

"Thanks, cuz," was all I could hear. I felt really proud of my boyfriend and then I rose and walked over to Snotlout. He looked warily up at me. He sighed. "I suppose you're gonna tell me I did the right thing," he said defensively. Hiccup looked up at me, surprised. I granted him a quick glance before turning my gaze back on Snotlout.

"No, though it was the right thing," I told him calmly. "But I wanted to say that losing someone that close is very hard. You will always wonder if there was something different you could have done. And you will always think about the things you wished you had said but never got round to. He was your Dad, Snotlout. He always will be. Remember what you loved about him, the happy memories and things will get better." I paused-this was getting personal. "Both my parents died in a car crash when I was sixteen so I know how hard it is to lose them suddenly. Unexpectedly."

"You didn't kill them," Snotlout told me shortly.

"They were driving to collect me from Army Cadet camp," I told him softly. "So they did die because of me. All I'm saying is you will work it out, Snotlout. And if you need anyone to talk to about what you are feeling-I'm happy to listen."

"Over dinner, Princess?" he asked me hopefully. I rolled my eyes.

"With your table manners? Urgh-I'd rather eat with Stormfly!" I shot back.

"Hey-I just shot my Dad! I need special treatment!" he protested. I cast Hiccup an exasperated glance and Snotlout took a deep breath and a flash of insight briefly coloured his voice. "And you guys are an item, aren't you?" I nodded. He sighed. "You know I'm not going to give up until you realise I'm far better than Captain Useless!" he told me. I caught the edge to his voice and realised he was putting on a brave front.

"Yup-he's cured," I announced and winked at Snotlout, then patted him kindly on the shoulder. "You keep telling yourself that, Snot," I grinned. The others watched us as we walked back to the table-followed by Snotlout who slammed his breakfast down and tucked in. Tuffnut looked up hopefully.

"You realise we're all traumatised as well," he said hopefully. "So maybe…"

"No-you're all on dragon dung duty," Hiccup told him flatly.

"Awww…c'mon…" Ruffnut whined. Hiccup looked up with a stern glare.

"Did you want it for a week or a month?" he asked them. Cami stared, shocked.

"Did they shoot you with something?" she asked with a frown. He cast her a look and polished off his toast.

"Only a shot of realisation that BERK is in disarray and that I need to step up. That we need to step up," he said thoughtfully. "After breakfast, I want all the base staff in the main garage. Gobber has already informed the others-I said I would let you guys know so no excuses. Then you will go and feed and groom your dragons. Spend some time reassuring and petting them-and no-you are forbidden to blow anything up, Tuff."

"Low blow, dude!"

"Then at 11:00, we will meet in the seminar room and debrief on the Oil Refinery, the kidnapping and rescue and yesterday's incidents. Those of you who haven't yet submitted reports for your participation in those events have until then to get them written and logged. Clear?"

"Yes, sir," Eret said clearly, giving a nod. It was noticeably less fun than goofing off all the time but a lot of bad things had happened and perhaps BERK needed to be run with a little more discipline. He nodded to the others and they rose to put their plates away. I smirked as I settled opposite Hiccup again.

"My work here is done," I said but he reached over and his hands found mine. There was suddenly uncertainty in those green eyes, his facade of calm and confidence cracking.

"I can only do this with you, Astrid," he admitted in a low voice. "You make everything look so simple, so obvious. Like talking to Snotlout…"

"You were doing fine," I assured him. He sighed.

"Snotlout has bullied me and treated me badly for years," he admitted. "And so, to be honest, had Spitelout. It felt…weird…to be there. offering him my support and comfort when a tiny piece of me almost felt like he deserved something horrible to happen to him. And then I felt like an utter bastard for even contemplating that thought when I should be-and was-really sorry for him."

"Karma," I murmured. "No, I was thinking the same thing. But I know-and you sort of do as well-how horrible it feels to lose your father. You did well-and you helped him." I finished my coffee. "Now what about this meeting in the garage?"

"It's the only place large enough to get almost all the staff in," he admitted. "Apart from Pen One-but as that is full of dragons, it may not be the wisest choice."

"Good thinking!" I grinned as we made our way to the garage. He was walking taller and his expression was more concentrated as we entered and he went to stand by Gobber. I wandered over to stand with the Riders. For a moment, he looked panicked and then he found me and beckoned me over. Almost all the staff were there and all groups were represented, from security to medical, domestic to catering, IT to ordnance, engineering to admin. Reluctantly, I stood forward and stood at his side, blushing with all those eyes upon me though with my chin high. He took a deep breath and addressed them.

"You are all aware now that my father, General Stoick Haddock, has been shot and is in a coma in the infirmary," he began, his voice loud enough to carry over the assembled staff. "He was shot apprehending Colonel Spitelout Jorgenson, former Head of Security, who was working with external forces to betray us. Two of his staff and Rider Harrigan are also traitors. All but one of them are dead." He paused and saw shock and fear in their eyes.

"BERK is now secure," he told them firmly, praying he was right. "We are now secure. And the traitors are all gone." He swept his clear green gaze over the anxious faces. "Damage has been done to us-but we are resilient. We will repair and rebuild. We are guarding the most astonishing and amazing find in the history of the military. We cannot allow our dragons to be taken from us, to be corrupted and used for evil. Security will make our base safe: we Riders will protect you. And we will hunt down and end those who seek to do us harm. We are here to protect those who need us. You will not fail them. We will not fail them!"

There was whooping and cheering-mainly from the twins, though Gustav and Cami joined in. And a ripple of applause started and ran through the crowd until everyone was clapping.

"Until the General is back on his feet, Commander Haddock will run the base with me," Gobber called out. "Do yer best. BERK will prevail!"

Hiccup swallowed and blinked hard as he took the applause, bowing slightly. His expression showed gratitude-but also that he was overwhelmed. Finally, Gobber roared "DISMISSED!" and they dispersed. I grasped his hand and found he was trembling.

"You okay?" I whispered. He nodded.

"Just thinking what my father would do," he murmured. "Um…lotsa pressure, actually."

"You do remember you're not Stoick the Vast?" I asked him. "Be Hiccup. AKA Commander Dragon Boy. Don't be your Dad-because you'll always be second best at being him. Be you-the best you that you can be." He nodded and paused, frowning, his eyes focussed somewhere in the middle distance.

"I was just thinking as well…if I was a traitor with full access to security and it was likely I would be discovered…would I just throw my hands up and go 'it's a fair cop'? Or would I leave some nasty surprises and a backdoor in for my friends?" I stared into his troubled face.

"I think we both know option B is the correct answer," I told him. He grabbed my hand. hauling me towards the elevator.

"I hope Gobber hasn't tidied up Dad's office yet," he murmured.

He hadn't and the computers were all still there. I stole a glance at the door to the General's quarters, almost expecting him to walk out as Hiccup settled at the screens and used Stoick's code to slide into the security systems. He immediately called up Spitelout's history, disabling every trap and pitfall the man had laid to cover his tracks. Hiccup had far better IT skills than his Uncle and had spent five years getting to know the entire system from top to bottom and had written a good portion of it. I nipped out and fetched coffees, then wandered back via the infirmary, ensuring Gothi knew where I was. She had been at the meeting so she knew what my newest additional role was going to be and she indicated my shift had been moved to the afternoon. I thanked her, then delivered a double Americano to Hiccup as he finished his investigations.

"From what Ozzie sent to me-which you copied-and from what I can gather from what Spitelout, Dacre and Amund have done, the system is booby-trapped and rigged to admit them and open the external door to Pen Seven," he told me as he sat up and stretched his cramped back.

"Pen Seven has an external door?" I frowned. He nodded.

"We keep it as a failsafe in case of fire, to evacuate the dragons," he admitted. "But it's in a smaller pen so would be relatively easy to overlook." He pulled up a list of actions the traitors had programmed in. "If they activated this, life support and environmental systems would go down, electricity would be cut and the external entrance would be opened. In a word: chaos. They would sweep in and take the dragons and whoever else they wanted." He sighed. "And it would be by a very simple external command." I stared at him.

"Can they do that?" I murmured. He nodded.

"I'll have IT install the upgraded Firewall Ozzie and I were working on," he said heavily, "and I will take all of the disabling functions out of the malware." Then he smiled quietly. "However, when the Firewall detects the activating code-which I have from the programme-we can rig a trap for them."

"What did you have in mind?" I asked. "Your fiercest dragon waiting to eat them?" He sighed.

"If only. The are gentle creatures that only attack you if threatened. But we can alert security and the Riders and activate the back door. We can also dim the lights and cut air-con temporarily to the pen area only simulating the success of their programme, while deadlocking all the Pen doors. They will think they have their way in-until they find themselves trapped in a pen with no access to any dragons or the base." He gave a grim smile. "And they can answer to me."

oOo

Later, after a surprisingly uneventful and smooth briefing session and a quiet but actually pleasant lunch, the Riders went to do their physical training and I headed back to the infirmary. Gothi gave me a smile and set me to more trauma simulations and I enjoyed the familiarity of working through medical scenarios rather than battling for my life with enemies, traitors and dragons. My grades were down a little but I took the feedback on board and the second set of simulations were far my best to date in BERK.

At the end of the shift, I stopped to look in on the General. He was stable-but still in a coma and his EEG had shown no deterioration. The shape I was expecting was sitting at his side. Hiccup's skinny shape was bolt upright, his hand on his father's huge paw, his pale face turned to the lax features of the General. He looked tired and uncertain.

"I'm sorry, Dad," he said in a heavy voice. "I'm not the leader your are-and I'm not the son you wanted. I guess…I'm just a disappointment. I'm trying-Thor, I'm trying-to do what you would, run the base effectively while you are ill and make sure they are all safe but I'm not sure how you do it. I mean-there are only so many hours in the day and Gobber keeps dumping more and more papers and reports on me to sort out. And he and I are covering the head of security post because Spitelout isn't here either."

He paused and his voice lowered. "I am sorry, Dad. I know he was your brother and you were close. His betrayal must have been a knife to the heart. Snot and I…aren't that close…but I can see how much he is hurt and you were even closer to Spitelout." He paused and his grip tightened. "We got them. Three dead and the other gone. Their back door-the damage they inserted in our systems-is gone. I wonder if they thought killing Ozzie would stop him uncovering it-but they forgot about me. Everyone forgets about me."

He sighed. "Except Astrid. She's…amazing, Dad. She's always there for me and she says all the right things at all the right times. She's got a temper and boy, does she kick my ass if I get out of line…but honestly, I deserved it. Yesterday, I was so scared I had blown it with her. I was so stupid, letting anger get in control that I forgot to listen. I wanted revenge to the exclusion of all else, forgetting the safety of my team, my friends, my dragon. Gods-I almost became like Dagur! I was a fool. She stopped me being a dead fool. I probably don't deserve her but I thank Odin I have her, every minute of the day." I blinked: it was such a sweet, such a touching thing to say that I felt ashamed I had overheard it. I almost backed away as he squeezed his father's hand.

"Come back soon, Dad," he murmured. "And I'm sorry. I'll try not to disappoint you again…"

His eyes widened as the squeeze was returned, weakly but definitely. I narrowed my eyes and looked closer as Hiccup stared at the huge shape on the bed. Stoick's eyes cracked open a slit and he took a rasping breath.

"Not…a disappointment…" he wheezed. "Proud…you are…my son…" He lifted his arms slightly and Hiccup hugged his father fiercely.

"Welcome back, Dad," he breathed in relief. Then I heard a bleep on my com and I frowned. Hiccup looked up and saw me and gave an embarrassed grin while Stoick managed a very faint wave to come closer. I nodded and gave a smile, inspecting my com as I walked in. Hiccup caught my hand and pulled me close as I frowned. "What is it?" he whispered. My eyes widened.

"It's Heather!" I breathed, showing him the message. I couldn't believe my eyes. "She says she's just come to in Alvin's base and has no idea what has been happening. The last thing she remembers is being captured over the glen during that exercise-and then nothing until now. But she is offering to stay where she is for the moment and feed us information." Hiccup stiffened. His eyes met mine and he looked troubled.

"Can we trust her?" I asked.