A/N: Wow, second chapter this day :O Well, it's over twelve o'clock at night now but... meh. Enjoy!
Jack stood in front of the hospital. It was strange, he'd been in such a rush to see his boyfriend again, so eager to know if he was okay that he even ran from the car. But now, standing there, he was nearly frozen in fear of what he'd actually see. Thousands of thoughts and scenarios and feelings ran through his head. Maybe he and Hiccup hadn't dated for ages but still they'd seemed to turn each others words completely upside down.
But he knew Hiccup was alive now, and that's what mattered the most. So drawing in a big breath he finally opened the glass doors to the hospital.
Entering he immediately saw the reception desks. Maybe four or five people sitting behind it with thin white walls separating the areas. There was only six people in total in the lobby so Jack had no problem finding a free lady. She had slightly curly black hair and was thin, looking like she was in her thirty's, with a white shirt. Jack recognized her a lot but didn't bother to figure out from where.
Jack was the first one to open his mouth. "I'm looking for Hiccup, Hiccup Haddock -came in 'bout an hour ago," he said pretty rushed but the woman seemed to grasp the words.
"Yes, yes, I know who you mean, but you can not see him," she said and Jack could have exploded.
"Why not?" He demanded, nearly forgetting to keep his voice down from shouting of expiration.
"Because" she started to explain, talking like she was doing so towards a toddler. "He's in a pretty bad shape and not even family is allowed to visit for now.
"Well, can you at least tell me how he's doing?!"
"Well guess yourself leaving a bleeding and malnourished boy unconscious for over a week in the middle of winter. Snowed in from that broken roof so nearly dead when they found 'im."
Jack gulped visibly but then nodded slowly. Suddenly he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, turning around he saw his mother standing there with a sad smile. Taking one look at the receptionist he talked to she gave a small and curtly nod herself in recognition and simply said. "Gothel."
"Hello Theresa," was the answer and then they were both quiet as Jacks mom gently guided him towards one of the uncomfortable wooden benches. Not until he sat there he actually noticed Stoick on the opposite one.
It was complete silence for a couple of seconds were the tension could have been visible. Jack told his mother pretty much everything so of course she knew about his relationship and Stoicks reaction to it.
"Didn't you promise to call?" Jack finally said meeting Stoick's gray gaze.
The man understood how he meant and answered. "Wouldn't have mattered if I did, they say no one is allowed to see him for at least six hours more."
Jack could feel his mother wrapping an arm around him before also she spoke. "So what do you know?"
After a long hesitation Stoick finally talked again. He didn't exactly feel to do it, but he knew Theresa since high school and despite his well, honestly pretty stony heart he felt that the blue eyed teen deserved to know. "An old storage house, far away from the city and in a secluded area. They haven't gone through the evidences yet but it was pretty clear what had occurred. Dagur is already in the police register so they've sent out information to the Minnesota police where he normally lives and it's already decided for another trial. As for Hiccup... They won't tell me much yet. They think he's stable now but yet don't know what kind of damages the cold could have done to his heart or the trauma in itself." With the words Stoicks voice seemed to grow quieter and when he finished he suddenly looked much older than forty five.
Jack took a long time to process the words and in the meantime he cold vaguely hear his mom reassuring Stoick that it would be okay while tightening her hug around his own body.
And so, the three of them actually sat there for six hours, almost always in silence. Jacks mom being the only one leaving the building to fetch some things from home, get a babysitter for Emma (Jacks little sister which his friend and neighbor Anna gladly helped with) as well as picking up lunch for them.
And eventually those hours actually passed, and a doctor came over to them. As only family was allowed for now, Jack was quick to say that he was Hiccups cousin Scott, and to his surprise Stoick actually didn't intervene! If it was because of Theresa's stern glare or because it would make his own son happy, he didn't know.
And so Stoick and Jack were soon guided down plenty of light halls before coming to a stop outside a white-as-everything-else door with the number of 210.
"Alright then," the doctor, Albaus, said before taking a quick look at his chart and continuing. "Ground rules; definitely no loud sounds. Don't make the boy worked up, startled, stressed or anything like that. Also, we're not sure how much he remembers of it but do not talk about the taboo subject. You can only be there for a few minutes because the patient really needs to rest again and the only reason you're allowed in is because he asked for you," he explained and waited until both other males nodded to slowly open the door.
Jack went close to Stoicks heels into the white room and when he entered the first thing he saw was his boyfriend lying in a hospital bed. Hiccup looked pale and cold despite all the white blankets draped over him. Next to the bed stood a heart monitor and an IV that were connected to his lower left arm, whether it was to help him sleep, for pain, or drugs and medicine to prevent the obvious fever, Jack didn't know. Maybe all three. He also noticed how thin Hiccup was. He'd of course always been thinner than a stick, but now he looked completely malnourished which was scary after such a short time.
Jack was the first to reach his bedside and when he did he knelt down and gently grabbed his right hand. When he did, Hiccup slowly opened his emerald green eyes and met Jacks crystal blue ones.
"Hey," he said pretty quietly, sounding as exhausted as he looked, before giving a tiny smile.
"Hey," Jack said back and smiled sadly as well. "How ya doing?"
"Been better," Hiccup confessed as Jack pulled up his blankets a little more. "And you? You look pretty tired," Hiccup observed and Jack shook his head.
"I'm fine, so you should just focus on getting better," he answered and Hiccup was quiet for a moment before asking without meeting Jacks gaze. "What happened to Dagur?"
Jack took a second to consider this as he were told not to speak of it, but finally told the truth. Well, partly. "He's gone. Far from the town."
Hiccup nodded silently. Jack then carefully brushed away his bangs before slightly jumping when Stoick suddenly spoke up. He'd already completely forgotten about the man.
"There's no need to worry, you're completely safe now son," he assured and Hiccup too seemed to only just noticing he was present. Stoick sat down at a chair much to small for his huge frame, placed at the bedside on the opposite side of Jack. "Do you need anything?" The gentleness in his voice almost shocking for the white haired teen.
"No, I'm good thank you," Hiccup said with a small smile that couldn't convince anyone; the pain and sadness was clear in his eyes. Though there was something else there as well that Jack couldn't pin point. And then the boy vaguely pointed to the two of them saying "So are you two...-" before Stoick cut him of.
"It's okay, we'll seriously discuss this sin-, well thing, between you and Jack when you're stronger. For now, you need to rest," Stoick ordered gently and when Hiccup didn't look Jack glared at the father, still not believing how he could be so against the same genders dating.
And as if on qu, Dr Albaus opened the door again and entered. "I'm sorry but now you'll need to leave. You can come back again by three o'clock but no visitors before that," he announced as he walked over to the IV and measured out two tablespoons of some white powder from a bag in his coat.
"Alright, thank you doctor," Stoick said before turning back to his only son. "I promise I'll be back by then, just you take and relax so you can get better." Then he gave Hiccups shoulder a light squeeze and stood up.
"Okay. I'll see you then, then," Hiccup said and waved with his arm still resting on the bed, already closing his eyes.
"I guess I need to leave now too," Jack said with a sigh before kissing Hiccups forehead.
"Yeah, I guess so," Hiccup murmured. Just as Jack was about to stand up Hiccup opened his eyes halfway again. "Jack, I'm sorry..." He whispered.
"What on earth are you sorry for?" He asked in response, truly confused and bent down again. Dr Albaus stood in the doorway and trying to discretely look another direction as he didn't have the heart to stop the conversation yet.
"For running away of course, it was so stupid and if I hadn't, none of this would have happened..." Hiccup explained as he looked at his lap but Jack could still see a brim of tears.
"No... Hey, it wasn't your fault," he said and grabbed Hiccups chin, gently forcing him to look back at him. In truth, Jack felt for begging for forgiveness and crying and apologizing himself for making all of this happen but he knew better than to do that now so he simply said, "None of it is your fault. But don't think about it now, it's like Stoick said; you just need to focus on getting better."
So Hiccup nodded once more, to tired to argue. "Okay. Bye Jack..."
"Bye Hic, I promise I'll come back tomorrow." And with that, he left the room.