=Astrid's POV=
{Saturday, April 2, 2022-6:00 am}
(Berk; Haddock Manor-Astrid's Room)
Regardless of getting back to Haddock Manor at around 10:30 pm; I didn't go right to sleep. I put Stormfly away and sat with her for a bit in Haddock Stables until 10:45 pm; then I got inside to take a shower. I cried a bit while I was in there. Around 11:10 pm; I was out and laying on my bed staring at the ceiling. I was exhausted but didn't have the energy to text the others and let them know. I was sure Gobber, Stoick, or Valka messaged someone in the Jorgenson family, so that meant Snotlout or Adelaide would hear and spread the word to Heather, Dagur, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut. Fishlegs would likely learn from his parents, Alvin and Termagant. In turn, someone of them would alert Camicazi, Ragna, Eret, Thuggory, and Nadia. News would get around that Hiccup's leg was gone, and he was in a coma until further notice. I didn't fall asleep until 1 am-ish after hearing Valka calm down Runa enough to get her to take a bottle and fall asleep in the bassinet that they pulled into their bedroom for the night because Runa didn't want to be by herself unless Hiccup was in the next room to hers. I found it amazing that babies could sense that kind of thing.
I've been lying awake since about 4 am, staring at the ceiling and wondering how Hiccup was doing. I was certain that if he woke up or his condition changed; Stoick or Valka would get notified of it through the night, but who knew. Perhaps if it happened too late or early in the morning; then the hospital wouldn't call anyone until after visiting hours began because they knew that the parents would come running to see Hiccup. Visiting hours would start in two hours; I hoped I could go with the Haddocks again; I knew the others wanted to see Hiccup too, but I couldn't bring myself to leave his side right now after all he's done for me since I began living with him. I should get up and perhaps a shower, maybe get breakfast and see how everyone else is holding. I tossed the covers off and sat up to rub my eyes and stretch. I got to my feet and went to the bathroom.
. . .
{6:20 am}
I decided that since I showered last night; I didn't need another one right this moment. I used the bathroom; then got dressed and began to get my shoes on. I heard my phone vibrating on the nightstand, so I leaned over to get it and saw Heather calling. I yawned while answering the call.
"Hi, Heather," I greeted tiredly.
"You sound exhausted," Heather informed.
"I didn't fall asleep until 1 am, woke up at 4:15 am," I informed.
"Couldn't stop thinking about Hiccup, could you?" Dagur wondered as I shook my head.
"I couldn't stop seeing what happened; Hiccup getting knocked off Toothless and fell towards that fire. Wondering what took place…" I sighed.
"I had a feeling Toothless dove down and caught Hiccup before the flames got him, or Hiccup would have been in worse shape," Dagur mentioned.
"That's what I keep telling myself," I agreed.
"Have you heard anything from Stoick and Valka yet? On Hiccup's condition?" Heather inquired. I blinked; they didn't know yet? Well, it was pretty late when we got back last night, but I assumed Stoick, Valka, or Gobber might have said something while we were at the hospital or when we got home at 10:30 pm.
"Yeah, I know everything. Gobber and I stayed at the hospital last night after you all left. The doctor didn't want to explain everything to everyone there because there could be too many questions," I informed quietly.
"Oh! Great. Why didn't you call us last night? We're at Thuggory's place," Ruffnut stated.
"Why?" I wondered curiously.
"It was the big enough, and we wanted to be in the same place for when the call came through. Thuggory offered for us to all come over and stay as we were leaving to go home. Snotlout, Adelaide, and Fishlegs went home with their families, but we have them on a call with us right now," Minden explained.
"Hi, Snotlout, Adelaide, and Fishlegs," I greeted them.
"Sup?" Snotlout replied.
"So what's up with Hiccup?" Fishlegs asked.
"Well, Hiccup's leg is gone, but we knew that before the hospital transport. The doctor said that they don't know what took the leg off. However, the break was clean and the wound slightly cauterized already, so all they had to do was clean it up, stop the bleeding, and close the nub," I began to explain.
"Think the fire did it when he fell?" asked Ragna.
"No idea. The doctor thinks so, but no way of knowing until Hiccup wakes up," I responded.
"Wait; he's still out?" Thuggory inquired.
"Yeah, and he might be out for a while. The other bit of the information is that Hiccup, aside from the leg, suffered some bruises, scratches, and light burns that will heal in a week or two. But…the biggest thing is that Hiccup is in a coma," I stated.
"Oh, my Gods!" Heather and Adelaide screeched as the rest gasped. I took a deep breath and began to explain everything that Dr. Kongur did the night before to them. Five minutes later; I finished.
"So they don't think it will last long, and he'll be able to recall everything. Right now; Hiccup is in ICU hooked up to machines, and oxygen. Hiccup can breathe on his own, but I think it's a just in case situation if his condition changes before he wakes up," I continued explaining.
"Are we allowed to visit?" Camicazi inquired.
"Yeah, but no more than eight at one time. Expect Valka and Stoick to be one of those eight at all times," I reminded.
"We figured," Eret said.
"Poor Hiccup…" Adelaide sniffled a bit.
"Visiting hours start at 8 am and end at 10 pm. I'm sure we're heading there first thing when they start," I said.
"Let us know who is there and when, so that we can plan when we go," Heather asked.
"I'll do my best. I gotta go for now; gonna try to get some breakfast until we go," I mentioned.
"Okay. See you later, Ast," Nadia responded. I was still iffy on trusting these five people, but I promised to give them a chance to prove their sincerity in the apologies. I still wasn't sold that they were sorry and wanted to be friends, but Hiccup seemed to trust that they meant it, so I was taking his word for it. However, with Hiccup in his current state; I wasn't going to go against something he said. It was mentioned to the five before by Hiccup's friends that they would be cool with things if Hiccup were, and Hiccup gave the five one chance to show they meant what they said or he would ruin them like he did Gruffnut.
Still, to this day, nobody had seen or heard from Gruffnut. Ruffnut and Tuffnut said that Gruffnut moved out according to their aunt and uncle. The last any of the Thorston in contact with Gruffnut; he was getting his GED outside of the Archipelago, and living in his apartment while looking for a job to make money for when his savings ran out. Gruffnut only kept in contact with his parents; he didn't want his new number getting out to anyone. Gruffnut's parents respected that and only let others know that Gruffnut was alive and okay. I didn't agree with what Hiccup did; outing Gruffnut as a submissive gay. I still wanted to know why Hiccup did it, but I never got around to asking what sparked him doing such a harsh thing and it made me worry that if he had that kind of information on Gruffnut; then what did he have on Eret, Ragna, Nadia, Thuggory, and Camicazi. I was a bit terrified to find out. Right now; it didn't matter. I wanted to get downstairs, have breakfast, then see Hiccup.
. . .
=Normal POV=
{Wednesday, April 7, 2022-5:30 pm}
(Archia Isle; Hospital-ICU #3005)
"He's been in a coma since the first," Valka frowned as she was rubbing her thumb on the backside of Hiccup's hand. It had been five days total that Hiccup's remained comatose in the ICU of Archia General Hospital.
"We knew it could be a bit, Val," Stoick sighed. "Come on; let's go get some dinner,"
"I don't want to leave him," Valka sobbed a bit, using her other hand to wipe a falling tear.
"I don't think much will change, Val. Go on and eat. I'm sure Runa is ready for a change and supper too. You can't be here every second of every day; Hiccup wouldn't like that, us putting everything on hold for him," Gobber reminded.
"You're right," Valka agreed, knowing Gobber and her husband were right.
"We can sit with him a while, Mrs. Haddock," Dagur offered. "We just got back from dinner ourselves," he added.
"I appreciate that Dagur," Stoick bowed his head gratefully. Astrid peeked into the room to see Spitelout, Frida, Valka, Stoick, Gobber, Alvin, and Termagant sitting with Hiccup since all the teenagers had gone out to get something to eat after Dagur's Dragon Training session. Dagur was trying to get everyone where they needed to be for Finals in May as it wasn't that far off now. With Hiccup out of commission; Dagur took over the lessons at the High School to make sure no one fell behind given nobody knew how long it would be before Hiccup woke up and could continue the job himself.
"Yeah, we can all sit with him since they moved Hiccup to a bigger room to accommodate more visitors. That was a nice thing the owner of the hospital did," Thuggory stated. It happened on Monday; that Hiccup was moved to a private room that could allow for at least fourteen people visiting at one time. It was the owner of the hospital's gift for what Hiccup did in saving the island and ending up with no left leg and in a coma because of what he did.
"We'll be back after," Gobber told Dagur, who nodded as the parents and Gobber left the room with Runa. The teenagers filed in and found a place to be. Like before, some sat and others leaned against a wall. Astrid was always one of the people next to Hiccup's bed. Adelaide and Heather were typically on the other side. The rest just stayed back to watch, and they would all engage in a little conversation to pass the time.
"I wonder when he'll wake up," Ragna said.
"I thought the doctor said it wouldn't be long," Fishlegs looked at Astrid.
"He said it shouldn't be long because Hiccup didn't sustain any major head injuries," Astrid replied while not taking her hands off of Hiccup's.
"But maybe the overall incident has him trapped in his mind. You figure how fast everything happened; we left the hospital, got home and everything just happened within a couple of hours," Adelaide shrugged a bit.
"I've read about that happening; something big happens, and people fall comatose to deal with it all. Maybe Hiccup knew felt when he lost his leg, and knows what happened to it," Fishlegs added.
"I've heard of what you're talking about, Fishlegs," Dagur stated. "Where Hiccup is in a coma because in his mind; he's still battling Red Death still, trying to survive since he fell off into the fire, but he went unconscious as it happened. Maybe Hiccup doesn't know he lived? Stuck in a dream or something?"
"It's possible," Heather agreed with her older brother.
"So Hiccup is still fighting a battle he's already won and isn't aware that he did?" Eret asked to confirm.
"In the simplest terms, yes," Snotlout nodded.
"Can't we like, talk to him? Can he hear us if we talk to him?" Camicazi wondered.
"The doctor said that all his brain activity is normal, but can't respond to us. I don't get how it works," Astrid admitted. "I assume it means that Hiccup can hear and feel us, but not do or say anything back. I guess it kind means that he's here, though asleep, and paralyzed?" she shrugged a little, unsure of her answer but it was the best way she understood what the doctor had explained of Hiccup's coma.
"So what's gonna happen with his leg, or…lack thereof?" Nadia wondered.
"The doctor said that Hiccup's nub has to heal before any work with a prosthetic begins so that he won't be hurt by pressure while walking on it. Something about strengthing the remainder of the leg as it heals that way it won't be weak in physical therapy," Snotlout mentioned from what he remembered he was told by his mother and father.
"Makes sense; he'll be in pain if it doesn't heal first," Tuffnut said.
"So how long is the recovery?" Ragna questioned.
"Four to six weeks at least is the standard for healing nubs after limb loss," Fishlegs remarked.
"How's Runa without Hiccup?" Camicazi asked.
"Miserable. We can all only do so much, but sometimes seeing Hiccup is what works. We've laid Runa beside Hiccup a few times to get her to settle down while visiting," Astrid said lightly, again her eyes didn't leave Hiccup's still figure. It was quiet now as Astrid rubbed her fingers over Hiccup's hand gently. Twenty minutes went by as Astrid was laying her head on the edge of the bed, her hands still holding Hiccup's.
"I hope he wakes up soon…I miss having him around," Heather frowned a bit, leaning against Dagur.
Astrid lowered her head once more, the forehead on Hiccup's hand, and the door opened revealing Stoick, Valka with Runa in her arms, and Gobber. "Guess this is our queue to leave," Thuggory mentioned.
"You can sit with the lad a bit longer. Val just insisted on seeing if Hiccup woke up at all; we're all talking in the hallway," Gobber informed as the teenagers nodded. Valka walked close and moved some of Hiccup's hair out of his face, then placed a kiss on his forehead. Runa reached for her father.
"Dada…Dada uppy," Runa whined some.
"Soon, baby girl. Soon," Valka said, not that it helped much. Stoick pulled Valka from the room, and Gobber closed the door behind them after exiting. Astrid couldn't believe that Runa was almost ten months old; she would be on the 11th of April. Astrid sighed as she held Hiccup's hand tightly in hers.
"You gotta wake up, Hiccup," Astrid said in a whisper as the others stayed quiet, and listened. "Come back to us…I can't lose you either…I can't imagine a world without you in it," she bowed her head and closed her eyes a moment. The others frowned a bit; this hurt Astrid a lot, and they could see that now. Astrid felt like crying; she could feel tears forming. However, Astrid felt something lightly move against her hand as her head shot up with a gasp.
"Astrid, what's wrong?" Snotlout asked.
"I-I felt Hiccup's hand move…" Astrid reported quickly, and in surprise.
"Did you!? Are you sure?" Dagur questioned quickly. Astrid nodded.
"Hiccup? Hiccup, can you hear me? Move your left hand again if you can…?" Astrid sat up more, very hopeful. It took a few seconds, but Hiccup's hand twitched again. "He did it; moved his hand! He can hear us…" she breathed out. Hiccup's face still appeared he was sleeping, except for his eyes; they could be seen moving around a bit behind the lids.
"Go get Stoick or Valka!" Dagur ordered. Adelaide rushed out to alert anyone outside the waiting room, mainly Hiccup's parents.
"Come on, Hiccup…Wake up. Open your eyes; we're all here, my friend," Fishlegs coaxed a bit. Hiccup's hand tightened on Astrid's now, much more movement than before.
"That's it…Come on, Hiccup," Astrid tried.
Hiccup's head turned to the side a bit, then to the other as he was trying hard to open his eyes. Hiccup was grunting a bit, panting, and trying to come to. During this, the room suddenly filled with others; much more than the limit allowed, but this was a big moment. Five days later from the defeat of Red Death, and Hiccup was beginning to wake up from the coma!
"Hiccup!?" Valka moved to Hiccup's side quickly, holding his hand as Stoick was beside her. "It's okay…Mom and Dad are here, baby," Valka said. Hiccup's head moved more as his eyes began to flutter a bit; then finally, they opened and blinked rapidly to look around and focus.
"Oh, thank Odin…" Astrid put a hand over her heart.
"Wh-Where…Am I?" Hiccup asked, his throat dry and voice barely above a whisper.
"In the hospital, son. How do you feel?"
"Th-thir..sty…" Hiccup managed.
"I'll get 'im some water," Gobber said as he moved to fill the small, plastic pitcher. Hiccup tried to shake his head more and adjust to sit up, but found he was very weak.
"Don't try to move a lot, son…" Valka urged. Gobber returned and brought the cup to Valka, who helped Hiccup take a drink so he wouldn't be so parched. After the drink, Valka set the cup aside as Hiccup laid his head back and looked around more.
"What happened? Did I pass out from overworking again?" Hiccup asked. Stoick and Valka looked a bit concerned now.
"No, son; you-," Stoick started, but the door opened as the doctor on staff walked in and had Stoick stop.
"Easy now, Mr. Haddock. A delicate situation, remember?" he reminded. "No need to rush in; there's a process to follow in these cases. Allow me to do my job, so we can see where we're at," Stoick nodded, remembering what he had been told in the beginning that Hiccup might take some time to recall what happened. "Hello, I'm Doctor Eirik Matheson," Eirik greeted, holding his hand out to Hiccup, who cautiously extended his own to shake the doctors.
"Why am I here?" Hiccup asked. "What happened, and why are all these people in my room?" he eyed Astrid, Eret, Camicazi, Nadia, Thuggory, and Ragna. Hiccup saw Astrid holding his hand, and pulled it away rather fast, shocking Astrid a bit.
"Dada uppy," Runa reached for him. Hiccup adjusted a bit, cringing to sit up; then he motioned for his mother to bring Runa closer to him. Hiccup took his daughter in his arms, kissing her nose and holding her as she relaxed on his chest; her head on his shoulder.
"You're getting so big, Roo…" Hiccup said softly. "And talking more; I'm so proud of you," he smiled as Runa held onto his hospital gown. Hiccup looked around more but frowned before glancing at his parents. "Where's Liv?" A lot gasped, and some bit back nervously.
"Hang on…Wait a second before anyone jumps into accusations," Spitelout put a hand up.
"Do you know what day it is, lad?" Alvin asked curiously.
"Well, yeah. It's Saturday, October 30th, 2021…" Hiccup replied confidently. Everyone's eyes widened.
