Hello, guys! Thanks for all the reviews last chapter. I wanted to give you this chapter...I'll probably update tomorrow. I have three stories going right now, and I'm trying to update them all at least once a day, and so far, it's been working for me, so YAY! :D

I have a POLL up on my profile to help me decide which story to write next, so if you guys want to vote, go ahead and vote. It'll help me. :D Enjoy chapter 10! :D

She kept pushing, trying desperately to pump the water out of his lungs. It wasn't working, by the fact that he remained unconscious and unbreathing, and it terrified her. She would have to do mouth-to-mouth after she reached thirty compressions. She didn't want to get sick, but even that was an afterthought. It wouldn't matter either way if Hiccup died. She knew the grief of losing Hiccup would affect a lot of people - Stoick, Toothless, the dragon riders, herself…

She kept pushing. She was at twenty five now. "Twenty six, twenty seven, twenty eight, twenty nine," she chanted under her breath. Behind her, Ruffnut and Tuffnut were holding each other in comfort while Snotlout tried to look as manly as possible despite the tears in his eyes, and Fishlegs wasn't even trying to hide his sobbing.

Neither was Astrid. She was crying freely, begging Hiccup to breathe again, pleading him to take a breath. When she reached thirty, she pinched his nose closed, put her mouth over his, and tried to give him some air.

Almost instantly, he jerked, and she barely had enough time to pull away and roll him over on his side before he coughed up whatever seawater was clogging his lungs. Astrid heard Snotlout and the twins whoop in unison, followed by a "SMACK" that could only come from a harsh high-five. That smack was pursued by a CLASH, and when Astrid stole a glance over her shoulder, she saw Ruffnut and Tuffnut bashing their heads together.

Fishlegs looked ready to cry all over again, this time from relief, and the little Terrible Terror screeched in joy.

Hiccup blinked at Astrid, his eyes unfocused. "Astrid?" he croaked. "Did...did I miss something?"

Astrid slid her arm beneath his head and held him, supporting his heavy head in the crook of her elbow. She laughed giddily, her voice quiet. "Besides escaping Dagur and his armada and nearly drowning, no," she said. She was grinning madly, and after a few moments, Hiccup smiled back weakly.

It faded rather quickly when he shut his eyes and moaned. "Aaahhgg...my head…"

Astrid turned her head and looked back at the others, holding Hiccup closer to her subconsciously. "We need to get him back to Dragon's Edge," she said determinedly. "We need to get him in bed, give him some medicine, and then send someone to Berk to get help."

The others nodded in agreement, Fishlegs and the twins mounting their dragons while Snotlout stepped forward to help Astrid get Hiccup on Stormfly's back.

"I got him," Astrid said, but accepted the Jorgenson's help anyway. Stormfly crouched low to the ground, and Astrid, with Snotlout's assistance, managed to get on her back with Hiccup resting in her arms. As soon as Snotlout mounted Hookfang, she shouted, "Let's go!", and the dragon riders headed back towards their base.

The edges of Hiccup's bangs were damp, and Astrid brushed them off his forehead repeatedly although the wind constantly blew them back into his face. She could feel his fever persisting, higher than it was before, and she was filled with concern all over again.

She also couldn't help but notice he was thinner than she remembered him being. Sure, he was thin normally, but now...she figured it came from barfing his guts up, and Dagur probably didn't feed him very much, either.

She wanted to kill the deranged maniac. She wanted to kill Dagur so, so, so badly, but she didn't have time, what with Hiccup nearly dying and all.

"Nuugghh…" Hiccup groaned, and Astrid instantly refocused her attention to him. His eyes were still shut tightly in pain, and she felt as though her heart were being stabbed. "Head...hurts...stomach…hurts...everything...hurts…"

Astrid carded her fingers through his thick, auburn hair, trying desperately not to cry. She couldn't stand seeing him in pain. He was shivering, his body wracked with chills due to his fever, and her heart was breaking for him all over again. "Shh, it's alright," she soothed. "We've got you now. You're safe."

Hiccup gazed up at her, his eyes dull, his face pale. "You...guys...okay?" he whispered.

Astrid couldn't believe him. Here he was, sick and malnourished, and he was worried about anyone but himself. "Yeah, we're fine," she assured him, holding his bangs back off his forehead so that he could see her clearly. "We're safe. We all are."

"Tooth...Toothless?" Hiccup asked, blearily.

"He's safe, too," Astrid promised. "Toothless is back at Dragon's Edge, safe and sound. Probably scared out of his mind, though, I might add." She smiled unconvincingly, and Hiccup smiled back, although it was weak and pain filled. "Try to get some rest," she offered, running her fingers through his hair and applying gentle pressure to his scalp in what she hoped was a calming gesture. "We won't get back to Dragon's Edge for another hour or so. You have time to sleep. Don't worry. We'll get you back to the Edge, get you warmed up some...you'll be feeling better before you even know it. For now, just let me know if you think you're going to throw up, alright?"

He nodded and let his eyes close. His breathing deepened, and in a heartbeat, Astrid knew he was sleeping. She didn't blame him. Poor lad was probably exhausted, along with being sick.

"Is he okay?" Fishlegs asked as he flew alongside Stormfly, flanked by Hookfang.

Astrid was about to say "Yes", but the more she thought about it, the more her mind begged to differ. Okay? Define okay? Just because Hiccup was breathing didn't mean that all was well. He was still sick and weak and feverish.

"No, he's not okay," Astrid said. "He's alive, but he's not okay. He needs medical attention. As soon as we get back to the Edge-" At this, she looked at the rider of the Monstrous Nightmare, "-you and the twins need to go get Gothi from Berk. Maybe get Stoick, too. Fishlegs, you need to stay and help me take care of Hiccup."

They nodded in unison. It sounded like a good plan, and besides, no one had a better idea.

So back to Dragon's Edge it was.