Chapter Nine

A/N: There's a bit of Astrid angst in this chapter. Sorry if that stuff annoys you, I promise it doesn't last TOO long. Also, there's a 'scene skip' in this that really isn't a legit change in scene. It's just switching from Astrid's POV to Toothless's. There's no change in time or place, just narrator.

There's also quite a bit of gooshiness... XD You have been warned.

Several hours later, Hiccup's condition hasn't changed a bit. His eyes remain open, a blank expression on his face. His body is still trembling a little, his breaths slightly irregular.

Gothi arrived and diagnosed him, coming to the same conclusion as Astrid. As for treatment...all they can do is wait and hope for the best. She left soon after telling them that, returning to her hut to look for something that might help Hiccup snap out his trance-like state.

Disgruntled and frustrated, Stoick stands up and paces his son's room. Berk's chief mumbles to himself, a scowl on his face. As this stressful day goes on, tracking down Dagur and beating him into a bloody pulp is starting to sound better and better to the furious viking leader. "Filthy traitor...attacking my son..."

Seated on a stool beside Hiccup's bed, Astrid lets out a small sigh. Having decided she no longer cares what anyone else thinks, she reaches out takes Hiccup's hand. It's cool to the touch but not deathly cold, at least. Not like before. A little flicker of hope sparks in her heart when she notices that, at least, he's warmed up a bit. Maybe that means he's improving...? Absently, she runs her thumb over the back of his hand, her mind lost in thought. More specifically, the thought of what happened just a few weeks ago. When it was her that was bed-ridden and Hiccup who was crazy with concern. He'd gone out and risked his life to save her, confronting a massive, poisonous dragon...and all for her sake. He could have died, doing something like that. But he did it anyway. Why? Astrid hasn't completely figured that part out yet. She's not stupid. She knows he has feelings for her; she can see it every time he looks at her. Heck, she knows she has feelings for him too! But, surely, he can't like her so much as to go out nearly get killed trying to get an antidote for her...right?

...Right?

Maybe that's why she feels so terrible right now. Why she feels so useless. He did so much for her, saved her life. And all she can do to help him is sit here and hope he wakes up soon...if he wakes up at all...

"Astrid." Stoick's voice interrupts her train of thought. He's stopped pacing and is now standing at the top of the stairs, an almost gentle look on his face. "No use in just sitting around and moping." He reminds her. "Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat." Obviously, he noticed her guilty expression and realized his behavior isn't helping.

The young blonde is about to refuse. She doesn't feel like eating anything. But apparently her stomach has other ideas. It lets out a huge growl, causing her to blush. "Um...maybe that would be a good idea."

Stoick nods, smirking at her. "Come on then." He says, motioning for her to follow him.

Astrid stands up but stops before taking a step. She realizes, with a pang, that Hiccup's hand is still laying inside hers. With a small, defeated sigh, she releases it. Placing it back on the bed, she casts one more longing look into his empty, green eyes before turning away and following Stoick downstairs.

Toothless watches them go. The Night Fury is still laying beside his Rider, an equally distant look on his face. It's that time of day again. The time just before the sun sets, when it's sinking behind the horizon, causing it to melt into shades of vibrant orange and fuchsia. Hiccup's favorite time of day...solely because that's when the two of them usually go flying together. Right now, the dragon's wings are itching to move. To carry Toothless and Hiccup off into the setting sun, just as they have everyday for months. A droning sigh escapes the dragon as he peeks up at Hiccup for the hundredth time. Just as always, his young friend is totally out-of-it.

Or so it seems, at first.

If Toothless only relied on his sense of sight, then he would think nothing had changed. But he doesn't. The Night Fury's ears perk up, twitching as he hears something. For a moment, he thinks his ears are playing tricks on him...until-

THERE IT IS AGAIN!

He jumps to his feet, eyeing Hiccup closely. Could it be true?! Moving a little closer, Toothless coos at him. Nudging his Rider's face, as if to entice him into making the sound again.

A moment later, Hiccup responds. He blinks, slowly, tiredly. Another little moan coming from his lips.

Toothless stares, wide-eyed. He hops to his feet and wiggles, excitedly. What is he supposed to do now, though?! Hiccup is waking up, right?! RIGHT?! Of course he is! Toothless goes over to him again and pushes the boy's cheek once, twice, three times... Wake up, Hiccup! Wake up!

The first thing Hiccup notices when he wakes up is a muffled sound next to his ear. His head is ringing loudly, so he can't quite tell what it is. It sounds so familiar...he feels like he should know it by heart...but he can't seem to recall it... And trying to remember is making his head hurt. In fact, his whole body hurts. His head, his throat, his chest... Everything aches. And he feels so heavy, like his body is made of lead.

"Ooohh..." He groans, squeezing his eyes shut. What happened...?

And there goes the noise again. Like a cat purring, only about three times as loud. He also hears a bunch of thumps, like something huge is jumping around his room.

Hiccup nearly jumps out of his skin when the thing-whatever it is-touches him. It runs its scaly head against his cheek, purring like mad. Only then does Hiccup's memory snap back into place. His eyes spring open as his heart gives a little jump. Oh gods... He turns, his eyes widening. "TOOTH-LESS!" He gasps at the sight of his dragon, tears stinging his eyes, both in relief at seeing his dragon alive and agony at the pain in his throat. It wasn't real! He realizes. It was just a nightmare!

The Night Fury screeches, gleefully and immediately licks Hiccup's face, literally jumping for joy, seeing his friend awake again. And this time, it's the right kind of awake. Not just staring at the ceiling.

Hiccup tries to sit up but fails, the heaviness of his body working against him as he simply collapses back down again. He swallows, trying to soothe the pain in his throat. That only makes it worse. And to top it all off, the room is spinning in front of him. He still can't remember what happened to him...only that, whatever it was, included Toothless...and fire...and... He squints, trying to force the memories back...

Nothing. Blank.

He sighs and turns a rueful look to Toothless. With a little, half-hearted smirk, he mouths 'hey, bud'.

Oddly enough, that little act causes Toothless to go bonkers. He jumps to his feet and roars. Hopping up and down as if to shake the whole house.

Hiccup watches, confused about what his dragon is trying to do... Really, he should have pieced it together. After all, he was unconscious. In his bed. At his house. It should have been obvious that his father would be there. But somehow, it wasn't. So when Stoick and Astrid suddenly appear at the doorway, having heard the Night Fury's cry and scrambled upstairs to see what's happening... Hiccup doesn't really know what to do. And the current fogginess of his mind doesn't help either.

"Son." Stoick breathes, seeing his boy's focused, comprehending eyes. Relief floods through him and he runs over, scooping Hiccup into his arms and nearly crushing the boy in his tight embrace. "Thank Thor you're finally awake..." He whispers, still clinging to his son's weakened body.

Astrid remains by the door, allowing Stoick and Hiccup to have some father-son time. Frankly, she's just relieved to see Hiccup awake.

Wow...Dad's hugging me...he must've been pretty worried. Hiccup can't help but wonder how long he's been out. "H-hey Da-ad." Hiccup manages in a broken voice.

Stoick looses his grip and lays Hiccup back down on the bed. "How are you feeling?" He asks, noticing the swimmy look in his son's eyes.

Hiccup cracks a weak smile, blinking away the dizziness. "L-ike I got tr-ampled by a dra-gon."

Stoick chuckles, ruffling his hair. "That's to be expected."

Only then does Hiccup frown. "Dad," He begins. "What ha-ppened?"

Stoick's brow furrows. "Don't you remember?"

The teen only shakes his head.

In the doorway, Astrid folds her arms over chest, a concerned expression flickering across her face. Could the lack of oxygen caused him to have some kind of brain trauma...? Is that why he doesn't remember? Or...maybe it's just because it was frightening experience. Maybe his mind is suppressing it on purpose. But if that's the case, is it a good idea to remind him...?

"It was Dagur." Stoick tells him after a moment of hesitation. "He ambushed you while you were in the Forge..."

Hiccup bites his lip. That does sound...familiar. Although only slightly. Did that really happen? He wouldn't put it past Dagur to- Hiccup's breath catches in his throat, all the color draining from his face. Then the memory hits him. And it hits hard.

He's struggling, fighting for his life. But the hands are unrelenting, tight, crushing his throat. He can't breathe, can't move. Blackness starts to swallow his mind and sight as his body gives out. Dagur's menacing laughter echos in his head as he sinks to the floor. He lands hard, collapsing at Dagur's feet.

Toothless is watching him with a sorrowful expression. Smoke is spilling out of his mouth where Dagur nearly killed the dragon with his own fire... Relief floods his body when he realizes Toothless is going to be okay. He, at least, isn't going to die. Even more relief comes when he notices he can't feel the pain anymore.

His body is numb. His vision goes black. He still can't find air...but that's okay. His lungs have stopped asking for it. Everything goes silent, even the frantic pulses on his heart.

"Hiccup...?" Astrid asks for the third time, touching his shoulder.

"H-he..." Hiccup stammers, his face pale. "Tried to kill me..."

Stoick and Astrid grimace at the terrified expression on his face.

No... Hiccup corrects himself. my heart stopped...Dagur DID kill me...