OKAY, so this is my EIGHTH update today. Phew, a lot of writing. :) It's late, and I'm half-asleep, so I'll do shout-outs the next chapter, since I don't want any of them to come out sounding really weird. :) So, see you all next update! :D
The next day, Astrid made sure her mother knew where she was going, and that it was okay to go. Her mother was working late at the pawn shop again. So, after making sure it was alright, Astrid left, first to the Haddock residence to feed Toothless and Sharpshot, and then to the hospital afterwards. That was her plan.
So, she went to the Haddock abode, Hiccup's cat and lizard, and then went to the hospital. She had to walk, since Tuff's bike was there, and she figured he would want it back sometime. So, she walked.
On her way, she passed the ice cream parlor. She stopped in front of it, remembering the day she and Hiccup had introduced their pets to each other. Astrid found herself feelings lightly sorry for Stormfly. Since Hiccup was hit by that car, the only time she spent with her parrot was early morning, late night, and whenever Astrid fed and watered her.
Sighing, she continued on, only to pass the pizza parlor. After remembering the times spent there, she went on again, only to pass the movie theatre. Astrid felt awful. Everywhere she looked, she saw Hiccup. She thought about him with every turn she made.
So, she went to the hospital. She set Tuff's bike up against a tree, not because she wanted to, per say, but because she felt the need to. She was a person who was borrowing it. She wasn't a person who was owning it.
She walked into the main lobby, and after getting "Okay-ed" by the desk clerk, walked up to Hiccup's room. She pushed the door open, and walked inside. Nothing had changed; he was still dead to the world. Valka sat at a chair placed by the bedside, staring into Hiccup's closed eyes, her hand resting on his.
"Morning, Valka," said Astrid, cutting off the "good" in it. It wasn't a good morning for either of them, and she knew it.
"You too," said Valka. She sighed. "Astrid, I need to...I need to tell you something," she said, standing and approaching the girl.
"Well, sure," said Astrid. "What is it?"
"Well..." Valka hesitated, and it became clear to Astrid she wasn't quite ready to say what she was about to speak. "You're Hiccup's closest friend, and I...I found it right to tell you a few things the doctors told me."
Astrid took a small step back. "I-I'm listening," she stuttered.
"He had a slight concussion," said Valka. "It's part way healed now, maybe give or take another week or two, but the doctors told me that it's possible he suffered severe brain damage."
"Wh...what?" said Astrid.
"They said he could have amnesia if he wakes up," said Valka. "Sorry, I meant when he wakes up," she quickly corrected herself. "Or, he could go mentally insane. The doctors have seen people with head injuries less severe than Hiccup's that have suffered such consequences. There's...there's no way to really know...until he wakes up..."
"Don't worry, Valka," said Astrid. "Hiccup is the strongest person I know. He'll be okay. He'll be okay." She didn't know if she was saying it to herself, or Valka.
She stayed at Hiccup's room until night came. Then, she left, telling Valka that she would be back the next day, and then got on Tuffnut's bike, and went back to her own house. After returning the bike to the Thorstons, she tried to stop thinking about the one thing her mind kept drifting to.
Brain damage. Amnesia. Mentally insane.
The next day, same thing happened; checked with her mother, fed Hiccup's pets, went to the hospital, and returned home when it became late. The next day; same thing. Same thing over and over for another week.
Two weeks since he had been hit by that car. And all the while, Hiccup didn't wake up.
According to Valka, the majority of Hiccup's injuries were healing while he was in his coma. But really, they needed to know if he would wake up before they could give off any real positive information. It didn't help Astrid one bit. Nothing they were saying really mattered much until he awakened.
Two weeks. That's how long he was unconscious. Another week passed with the same schedule as the previous days. Nearly one month since the accident. Why wasn't he awake?
On the twenty first day since the incident, Astrid went to visit him again. After walking into his room, she realized that Valka wasn't there. Well, she was probably home showering; Astrid realized that every other few days, Valka would leave to get some more clothes for herself at her house, shower, and then come right back.
This was one of those days.
Nothing was very different, only his oxygen tube was gone. Right. Valka had told her that his injuries were healing the while he was unconscious. But none of it even mattered if he didn't wake up.
Astrid, quite literally, slapped herself in the face - hard. Stop it! she mentally scolded. Stop being so negative! He'll wake up! You promised Valka he would! Stop telling yourself otherwise!
She sat on the vacant chair parked by the hospital bed and sighed, averting her gaze to her feet as if they were suddenly very interesting.
"You..." she said to Hiccup, although she still wasn't looking at him, "you will wake up...won't you?" She turned her head and refocused her gaze. Nothing. Nothing yet at all. "Please," said Astrid. "I need you to wake up. I need you to just do something as simple as...open your eyes. Smile. Do something, to tell me at least that you will be okay. Can you...can you do that?"
She closed her eyes and felt tears wet her face. Why wasn't she there when the accident had happened? She should have been there...maybe she could have prevented it.
"I think I can..." a voice suddenly whispered.
Astrid's head whipped up, and she shrieked in joy.