Chapter 12: A close call.

Hiccup's POV

Dr. Arnold has once again press in fingers into my chest area causing so much pain there. If I could, I would punch her square in the face. But I can't because I can't extend my arm too long because of my injury.

After Astrid had found me, she went immediately to the nurse and got her. The nurse had to check me out in the bathroom since she wanted me to be as immobilize as possible in case of other injuries my ribs would have caused such as a puncture to my organs. The bathroom had to be closed to the rest of the students so I can be loaded up in a wheelchair and taken to an ambulance for the hospital. Which became more embarrassing. Now here I am lying on bed in the busy emergency room with Gobber getting checked out.

Gobber has to be here, since my dad isn't here and had named him my legal guardian in case of something like this happens. Luckily Gobber has given me the benefit of the doubt and left me to be check out privately by Dr. Arnold.

I gasped from the pain. It's so hard to breath right now. I can take a long breath without wanting to gasp in pain.

The doctor then looks at my x-rays and nods at something. Before she turns her attention back at me.

" Your ribs are definitely bruised." She deemed as she writes on her clipboard. As it there was any other explanation for the purple marks that is littering my chest right not.

" You think?" I scoffed. I can't believe that I am in so much pain right now.

" Now would I like to know is: how did this happened?" She asked me.

I want to lie and say that I fell. But when it comes to doctors, I can't lie to them. They would know in an instant that I was lying.

" I… was wearing something that I wasn't suppose to wear in place of a bra." I grumbled.

" It looks like you were. You need to be more careful when it comes to this Miss. Haddock. You can get seriously hurt." She said.

" As if I'm not already." I grumbled again.

" Now I don't want you doing any too physical for the next couple of weeks. You will need physical therapy and I recommend you icing your chest. I will also prescribe some pain medication. Speaking of which, are you on any type of medications?" She asked.

I hesitate but I have to tell her, " Hormone blockers." I said.

" Do you have cancer?" She asked. I get that she's asking that because hormone blockers are used as a part of cancer remission as well as for transgenders.

" No." I answered before another thought came to my mind. " This won't be on the record right?"

" No. Not unless I needed to take it into account if the pain medication would interfere with your hormone blockers." She answers.

" Thanks." I said as I close my eyes in relief.

" I will wait a few more test results just to make sure you're alright. But we should have you out of her in about a few hours." Dr. Arnold said. " Consider yourself lucky."

I watch her leave my hospital cubicle before I see Gobber come around the curtain.

" You know you don't have to leave your job for me." I said.

" I know. But I want to make sure you're alright. Otherwise you're father would kill me." Gobber chuckled as he ruffles my hair. He hasn't done that since I was little.

" I'm not sure that he would care. He sees me as a nuisance." I responded.

" He does care lass. He justs… doesn't know how to handle all of this." He said as he gestures in my direction.

" You just gestured to all of me." I rolled my eyes.

" Don't take it like that. The point is to give your father a chance once in awhile. He's trying to be a father to you, but you know how he is. He's stubborn. You should know it gallops in your family." Gobber points out.

I sigh. I really don't want to talk about this now. I don't need another lecture on family dynamics.

" Hello. Is Henrietta here?" I heard Astrid from a distance. What's she doing here?

Astrid comes around the curtain and sees me.

" Hiccup. You're alright!" She gasps in relief.

" I am." I said. Was she that worried about me?

Gobber shifts his eyes at both Astrid and back at me. He gets what's going on. Which I really wish that he didn't

" Well… I'm going… to… leave you be.." He says before he almost rushes out of here.

" I was worried." Astrid said as she sits by my hospital bed.

" It's nothing. Just bruised ribs." I told her.

" You are hurt either way." She said before punching my shoulder hard.

" Ow!" I yelped. I don't need anymore pain that I'm already am.

" That's for scaring me." She said.

" I deserved that one." I admitted as I moan in pain. This sucks.

" What about swimming?" She asks. " I mean you can't do that with a rib injury."

" Yeah. I'm told that I might just end up take another study hall in the meantime." I said. In a way I am grateful of my injury. I got out of swimming for another year. Horray for my stupidity.

" Alright. What I need to know is how did you get hurt. Did Dagny's goons get to you?" She asked.

" No. Nothing like that. I just… I just….' I tried to explain but I don't know what to say to her.

" If you don't want tell me that's fine. But you can trust me. I won't do anything to hurt you." She says.

" Thanks. Astrid." I said feeling more comfortable. I look at her and see actually blush. Which caused me to blush.

Oh. What am I doing? She shouldn't be into me. She should be into guys. Not freaks of nature like me. But I can't tell her what to be into. Only she can do that for herself. But why? Why is she giving me her time of the day. I don't deserve this. I don't.

" Are you going to the homecoming dance this friday." She asked.

I shrugged, but that causes me to grunt in pain. I forgot how these gesture hurt my ribs

" Maybe." I said. " I don't have anything better to do."

" Cool. Because Ruffnut has already picked out our suits." Astrid smirked.

Suits? Oh yeah. I planted the idea in Ruffnut's head last week.

" You guys are actually doing it?" I chuckled.

" Ever since you gave her the inspiration. To be quite honest it's actually growing on me." Astrid laughed as well.

" I can't believe you be into something like that." I snorted.

" Now imagine her brother in a dress. She picked out his dress and he doesn't know it yet." Astrid said.

I would have bursted out laughing if it weren't for my ribs. Even then I could barely contain the temptation.

Hey injuring my ribs wasn't as bad as I thought.


Another chapter done. Sorry for being a little late. I was busy with work. I hope you like this chapter for now. I will release a longer one. I swear.

I also released another test chapter for a story called: The Messenger. It's about Hiccup's older sister named Kyra who was sent away not long after birth for her own protection and now has to help the people that abandoned her.

Please check out the story and see you later.