DISCLAIMER - Hopefully you enjoyed the previous chapter. Again, I am just for-warning my readers that this may or may not place Valka in a positive manner, so I chose my rating a little more mature than my typical ratings. I am not sure how this will follow - I have been debating on this for some time in my AU setting. And, even though I have the base narrowed down I am not sure what the "reason" will be that Valka has been gone from Hiccup's life and why she is returning now.
...
Hiccup was sitting on a bench only about half a mile into his hike. Internally, he was fit to be tied. He was beginning to understand why his father sometimes would burst out in anger for no apparent reason. His father was holding back his stress. Now, Hiccup was sitting on the bench, his one good leg shaking to take the edge away from his anxiety.
He'd only managed to make his way on the western path just a little farther ahead than where he remained sitting. He'd turned back around when he noticed the pain suddenly radiating from his leg. It was clear after a few more steps a couple of screws in his prosthetic had somehow loosened up. Continuing on would have been a horrible idea. So, he'd turned around and relieved to know a bench to rest on wasn't far behind.
However, when he sat down to inspect the damage, despite the compression sock his stump had grown very raw already due to the severity of the rubbing. After pulling out his phone there was no cell phone signal to call out. He'd spent easily the last twenty minutes trying to get a text to send to Astrid asking her to come and help get him back to the car - however his dozen attempts had proven to be shortcoming.
His mind had jumped to the worse cases possible. Eventually, Astrid would become worried when he wouldn't show back up to the car and come looking for him. More than likely, she would contact his father to let him know Hiccup hadn't returned. And, he could just hear his father's booming voice scolding him for not pushing Astrid to come with him on this hike - especially with the newer prosthetic.
"I knew better," he said with a sigh. Just two weeks ago the doctor had shown Hiccup all the tricks to the leg model to help avoid incidents such as the one at hand. The first model had broken Hiccup in - more than once he'd become frustrated dealing with the first because he couldn't get it adjusted depending on the shoe he would be wearing. Eventually, he decided to stick with a basic pair of tennis shoes until he could get through the rough patches of adjusting to the prosthetic. He rarely had to tinker with the proper settings and leveling of the leg.
However, his doctor had been trying to enforce him to learn how to properly adjust this one. And, up until this point Hiccup had been doing just fine.
Until he'd neglected to bring his back pack when he'd known he was going on a hike. Despite Astrid pushing him to go alone and they both having a plan B in the event something went wrong - Hiccup hadn't prepared for this. He had left feeling confident they had worked out the emergency plan.
He didn't actually think they would be using it.
He was plagued with how his lack of planning could spread som unnecessary panic to she and his father - Especially his father.
Wrapping his arms around his gut, trying to resist the urge to vomit due to his anxiety, he bounced his leg impatiently. Glancing at the clock, he figured Astrid would be coming soon to look for him. He tried to not focus on the bad, but tried to focus on the fact he was okay. It could have been worse than what it was.
Suddenly, his leg gave a horrible jolt of pain, and he reached forward to remove the prosthetic officially. He figured he would need it on to head back down the hill with Astrid. Now, he knew he couldn't just sit there with it on. His stump needed a break.
As he separated his leg from it's extension, he was suddenly aware of footsteps coming from the southern part of the trail. He felt hope when he realized it could be Astrid coming to find him. But, felt panic when he realized it was a woman coming up the trail towards him.
Without hesitation, he slipped his stump back into his prosthetic - and it growled so angrily he couldn't help but wince.
His muffled noises apparently caught the woman's attention, because suddenly she was close and was asking in a very quiet voice: "Is everything o-okay?"
Her hesitation immediately caused Hiccup to draw conclusions that she was mortified to see him with the prosthetic. Despite himself growing used to the staring at school from his peers, meeting strangers who would stare at his leg more out of curiosity than rudeness still threw him off. He was already self-conscious enough - however he once had someone grow queasy at the park when he had sat down once to try to adjust his shoe.
Reluctantly, he glanced up and met her face. She was a pretty woman, and he gaged her to be around his father's age with her crows feet starting on the sides of her eyes. She had light brown hair pulled back in a braid similar to how Astrid wore her own. She looked at him with concern and he could tell she was hesitating to approach.
"I'm sorry -" he said, finding his voice. "Just - Just having an issue with the leg." He felt his chest tightening and he forced himself to take in a few calming breaths. He tried to give her a reassuring smile.
"Is there - " The woman seemed to hesitate, and Hiccup detected her feet shuffling nervously as though she was debating on whether or not to offer help. "Can I help you with anything?"
Hiccup went to shake his head, but sighed in defeat. He held back a wince as another wave hit on his stump. He resisted the urge to just throw the contraption away - one less thing to worry about.
"Um - not with this," he said nervously. "Um - " Suddenly, he felt a laugh escape him. There he went - trying to lighten the situation. He was thinking in his head what to say to avoid making even more of a fool of himself. "Sorry - I should have known - I knew better -"
Hearing her feet shift again, she approached a little more cautiously. He knew she was studying him and perhaps trying to figure out how she could help.
"Is - is your friend driving the white SUV?"
Oh, good. She was making a connection despite his incompetence.
"Yes - "
"We aren't far from the parking lot. I could take you - I could go get her for you."
Hiccup gave a weak smile. "I'm sorry - would you please?"
Before he could say another word to the woman she was on her way downward on the bath. He signed with relief knowing that she was no longer staring at him but also because she said she was going to go tell Astrid.
His stump raged suddenly, and he could feel sweat beading up on his forehead and neck. If he had to rate the pain, it was probably a four at the moment. He really needed to get home and let is soak in the warmth of the bathtub. He just hoped he hadn't flared it up enough to cause a horrible phantom pain. If he had he knew he'd be asleep shortly after arriving back at home because of the medication he would need to take.
He remained on the bench another fifteen minutes and suddenly began to grow concerned. It wouldn't have taken the woman this long to reach Astrid. And, Astrid could run. He figured by now Astrid would have been at his side trying to help him back down the hill.
Without the prosthetic being on the pain in his leg was easing. But, he felt so helpless waiting for her. Perhaps he'd misjudged the woman. Maybe she didn't move quite as quickly as he'd anticipated.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps again and glancing towards his left he saw Astrid walking at a brisk pace up the hill towards him.
"Are you hurt?" she asked suddenly, kneeling down to try to see what was bothering him.
"No - no I'm fine," he breathed, trying to give her a reassuring smile. "Honestly - just lack of planning on my part."
He explained to her what was wrong and why he couldn't continue on his hike.
"Did the woman alarm you?" he asked.
Astrid glanced at him with confusion before she helped him stand, placing his arm around her shoulders and supporting him.
"What woman?" she asked.
"She didn't talk to you?" Hiccup asked.
"No one talked to me," she said.
"A woman found me and said she was going to come let you know in the parking lot," he explained.
Astrid shook her head at him. "I came looking for you on my own - "
The thought of the woman left Hiccup's head then. "You didn't tell my dad I was missing, did you?"
"No," she said defensively. "I didn't see the need to alarm him. Honestly, I thought maybe you'd lost track of time."
He shook his head.
Unfortunately, they couldn't continue on with Hiccup hobbling on one leg even with Astrid's support. He reluctantly slipped his stump back into the prosthetic and had to walk with her support down the uneven pathway towards the SUV. By the time they reached the car, Hiccup was pleading to remove the prosthetic, and Astrid had to help him pull it away from his stump once she'd gotten him settled.
It was now 5:30 - and he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket now that he'd regained cell phone service. Ignoring his text messages and his two voice mails that he heard reach his voice mail box, he pulled on his seat belt.
"Let's get you home," Astrid breathed.
The little hatchback that had been in the lot was no where to be seen.
...
Hiccup moaned as his stump came to rest in the warmth of the bath water. His father wasn't home when they'd arrive, so Astrid took the liberty of drawing up the warm water with some Epson salt to try to sooth his leg. While he sat upright on his bathing chair, Astrid had taken charge at trying to figure out Hiccup's prosthetic. She'd found the Allen Wrench on his bedside table and attempted to straighten the leg out the best she could figure.
Watching her sit on the seat of the commode tinkering with the contraption made him appreciate her a little more - which was hard to fathom. She'd already made herself part of his life simply by being there during the trying times with his condition.
She'd taken him to PT when both his father and Katherine had gotten called into a closed chamber meeting at the court house. She had an interest in studying physical therapy so she'd hung onto every word that Jarrod had been saying to him. Even though the appointment was mainly focused on how his body was adjusting to the new prosthetic and possibly making tweaks she was right there.
"Thank you," Hiccup said suddenly. He had found his voice now that his leg was submerged and he was at home safe.
She nodded to him, giving a weak smile.
"I think I may have fixed the loose spots, but you will probably have to tinker with it a little bit."
"Perhaps tomorrow," he breathed. "I may or may not be on crutches tomorrow."
She frowned at him knowing how much he didn't want to go back to school on crutches. "Perhaps not." She stood up and walked over to take a seat on the bathing seat beside him. She was trying to be positive for him.
He needed her. She kept his mind focused on the good verses the bad. She knew just what he needed - almost exactly when he needed it. Suddenly, he felt worried she knew more about him than he knew about her. He felt like a taker verses a giver.
Suddenly, he noticed she was taking off her shoes and socks, and rolling up her jeans to her knees so that she could join him in the water. He couldn't help but smile, and reached over and turned the water on to heat the water a little more.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before she leaned in against his arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"This is nice," she said quietly.
"Not a very fancy date," he said gently.
Then, she shifted and punched his shoulder gently. "You should know by now I don't need fancy."
"Yes - but you deserve fancy."
Suddenly, both their cheeks grew scarlet and she leaned back into his shoulder again.
"Pain subside?" she asked.
"Mmmmm Hmmmm," he replied. "I think we caught it quickly."
"That's good."
He pulled his phone from his pocket and glanced down at it. He was certain his father's absence meant he was getting the pizza for their dinner. His stomach suddenly gave a jerking noise reminding him he hadn't really eaten much that day. He'd let the cereal grow soggy at breakfast.
"Good thing we are eating shortly, huh?" Astrid said. "I'm hungry, too."
"Should you let your folks know you made it over?"
"Already done," Astrid said. "You let me know when you are done here."
He nodded knowing he would probably need her to get his crutches from the bedroom so that he could maneuver for the remainder of the evening.
...
Before Stoick or Katherine had arrived back to the house, Astrid and Hiccup agreed not to tell them what happened to Hiccup in the woods, minus the reason why he was hobbling around on crutches verses his prosthetic. His father or Katherine didn't ask, but he knew he would have to tell his father what happened later that evening. Just the part that he'd forgotten his bag and Astrid needed to help him back down from the path.
When his father and Katherine arrived home with a large pizza, Hiccup was reminded at how worn his father had looked that afternoon. After a shower his father looked more refreshed, but he still harbored the look of an overworked and overstressed thirty-eight year old man.
Thankfully, with Astrid and Katherine around he seemed to have dismissed his stress and enjoyed pizza and a couple of games of euchre before Astrid had to head home for the night. Hiccup walked her out, kissing her gently before bidding her goodbye. Instead of heading inside, he decided to watch her leave from the comfort of the porch swing. The cool breeze felt refreshing, and perhaps sitting in silence in the fresh air would help him calm down and sleep well.
Katherine left shortly there after, leaning down to give him a hug and a quick peck on his cheek, she wished him a good Monday back to school, kissed Stoick and was off into her own car.
Hiccup thought his father would head back inside as soon as she was in her car safely and down the street, Instead, his father lingered, then took a seat on the stone wall of the front porch close to Hiccup.
"Nice evening," his father said gently.
Hiccup agreed.
Silence separated them for a little while. Hiccup could feel his anxiety drawing up again when he noticed his father running his hands nervoulsy through his hair again.
"Hiccup - " he breathed. "I'm sorry if I wasn't really here this weekend. I should have thought to ask you if you needed the keys to the car -"
"Dad, it's okay. It's your car, not mine. You don't need to be mindful on Fridays to offer me the keys."
"True."
Silence hung again, then his father said.
"The case I am working on - it's a custody case," he breathed.
Hiccup felt a little confused. "Doesn't Abigail handle those?"
His father's jaw clenched a little bit. "Typically..."
"It must be a pretty big one if you are handling it instead," Hiccup said softly.
Stoick Vast usually handled the high profile cases. Hiccup knew that his father liked to be the attorney for the defendants who had drug traffic charges, assault charges and even murder charges and so much more. Some days Hiccup thought his father liked handling them because he often believed he could help turn them around. Perhaps eventually they would learn.
However, most of the attorneys in town did not want to be the attorney to these types of people. His father started his career as an attorney as a defense attorney for legal aide - more or less this was what he knew over divorce cases, child support cases and custody. Even the estate cases his father drifted away from those and preferred the handle the delinquents.
"It is a pretty important case," his father said hesitantly. "It's - kinda personal."
"Oh," Hiccup said gently. "Old one, then."
"You could put it that way."
Hiccup wanted some peace. And, his father was making small talk with him.
"Um - son. There may be a few more nights this week like this weekend - just so you know."
Hiccup nodded. "I have PT on Wednesday at 3:15 -"
The look on his father's face told him he'd forgotten.
"I can probably see if Katherine could -"
"No, no, Hiccup - " Suddenly then he saw his father's eyes grow teary. This alarmed Hiccup, and he almost wondered if he'd mistaken the tears for a light in the distance coming on and shining in his father's eyes.
"Dad -"
"Come inside. We can talk in there."
Hiccup didn't move. "Dad, what's going on?"
"Just - well, we can discuss it inside."
"Dad, I - "
"Please, Hiccup. Inside."
Hearing the terrified plea in his father's voice, Hiccup reached for his crutches and headed towards the door. His father held it open for him. Hiccup could feel his hands shaking, and with some hesitation on where to go he headed towards the kitchen. It was typically where he and his father discussed their agenda for the week, the appointments and the possible case schedules.
It was where Hiccup felt most comfortable because depending on what his father wanted to discuss, if he needed to he could flea towards his bedroom quickly and close the door.
He took a seat at the table, and his father went to making a pot of coffee.
Now, it was serious if his father was making coffee at nine at night. It was clear then that his father was on the verge of melting at any point in time. Most likely due to mental and physical exhaustion.
"What's this all about, Dad?" he asked once his father put the coffee containing back into it's proper place.
Mr. Vast took to leaning across the kitchen against the countertop. Hands in his pockets, head down, he breathed.
"I -uh - well, on Thursday Abigail approached me and said she was asked to lunch by a gentleman down at the Gilligan Firm - "
This didn't sounds too out of the ordinary to Hiccup since his father went to lunch with various colleagues and other attorneys in the county to discuss cases. But, he let his father continue.
"When she returned, she informed me that she had assumed this was a single man who shared some common interests with her due to their profession. He's twenty-nine, she's twenty-eight - you get the picture." Mr. Vast took a very shaky breath in. "The gentleman knew that Abigail handled our custody cases in the office. He threw a few questions at her about some of the cases she deals with, and then he threw her off guard."
"What's this got to do with you?" Hiccup asked. He was growing frustrated with the small-talk.
"Well, he asked her what she knew about - our situation."
"Our situation? Like - my accident?"
"That, plus other information."
"Dad, that's our personal business. That's - that's private."
"Easy, there, kiddo," Mr. Vast said. "Abigail knows basics but she picked up very quickly that he was fishing for information. He was very interested on what she knew about your accident his past June. He then presented her with medical records - your medical records."
"Mine!?" Hiccup could feel his face growing very warm due to anger.
"Yes," Mr. Vast breathed.
"How did he get them?" Hiccup asked. "Those are private!"
"Well -" This was when Mr. Vast's eyes flickered again. "There's only a few ways that he could have gotten them. I know how he obtained them."
"How?" Hiccup demanded.
Mr. Vast took in a shaky breath and said, "Hiccup - he obtained them from your mother."
...
Now, I will say this - I am not exactly sure how all the legally works with court cases, child custody cases, etc. If I am misrepresenting something please do not shame me. It is simply a story.
However, I hope you have enjoyed the first two chapters as much as I have enjoyed writing them. I have other ideas but it is too late to begin the next chapter.
Please tell me what you think.
